LHC Summons Lahore DC Over Imran Khan's Sisters' Detention, Orders Noreen's Meeting With Daughters

Photo: The Express Tribune

The Lahore High Court has summoned the Lahore deputy commissioner to appear in person on November 4 over the extended detention of Imran Khan's three sisters. The court also ordered that Noreen Niazi's two daughters be allowed to meet their mother in jail on Tuesday at 10am for one hour.

Justice Abher Gul Khan gave the orders on Monday while hearing petitions filed by Aleema Khan's son, Shahrez Khan, and by Sakeena Bibi. The petitions challenge the extension of the detentions of Aleema Khan, Dr Uzma Khan and Noreen Niazi, and also raise the question of Noreen's medical treatment.

The three sisters have been in custody since September under the Punjab Maintenance of Public Order Ordinance, a 1960 law that allows preventive detention when the government says public order is at risk. Aleema was detained on 20 September for 30 days, and Noreen and Uzma were detained the next day, also for 30 days, as the PTI was preparing a protest march to Islamabad. When the first period ended, the Punjab government told the court the detentions had been extended by another 30 days on the deputy commissioner's recommendation, through a notification dated 7 October. The families say that extension is unlawful and want the court to set it aside.

Geo News reported that the court directed the petitioners' lawyer to submit an application to the deputy commissioner for the family meeting, and ordered the deputy commissioner to arrange it. The court has also sought the Punjab Home Department's response before deciding the challenge to the extensions, and a compliance report on the family meetings is due on November 4.

Noreen's health has been a worry through this case. She was shifted from Kot Lakhpat Jail to the Punjab Institute of Cardiology on 28 October after heart related discomfort. A government lawyer told the court she had received treatment at the hospital and was then transferred back to jail on doctors' advice, which matches our earlier report of Noreen Niazi being shifted back to Kot Lakhpat Jail. The lawyer also said her daughter, Hajra Niazi, had already met her on 29 October during the hospital treatment.

The petitioners' lawyer, Rana Mudassar Umar, told the court the three sisters had spent 44 days in jail without committing any offence, and asked that a report in Aleema's case also be called by November 4. Justice Khan said the court would examine the matter. PTI Secretary General Salman Akram Raja had earlier told the court that Aleema's driver had also been detained and asked for leniency for him, but the judge observed that the applications had been filed together, so the reports would be sought together as well.

Put simply, the court is now asking the official who issued the extension orders to come and explain them himself, instead of the case moving only on written replies from the government.

Sources

• Geo News, LHC summons Lahore DC over Imran's sisters detention, orders Noreen's meeting with daughters
• Dawn, LHC seeks report from Punjab Home Department on extended detention of Imran's sisters
• The Express Tribune, LHC seeks reports on continued detention of Imran's sisters, Noreen's health

The deputy commissioner appears before the court on November 4 with the reports, and that hearing will show whether the detentions stand or change.

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