LHC rejects plea to suspend detention orders for Uzma Khan and Nooreen Niazi

The Lahore High Court (LHC) on Thursday rejected a request to immediately halt the preventive detention orders issued against Noreen Niazi and Dr Uzma Khan, sisters of PTI founder Imran Khan. Uzma and Noreen were apprehended on Monday for a 30-day period under the Punjab Maintenance of Public Order Ordinance 1960 (MPO) following their sister Aleema Khan’s detention.

The arrests of Imran’s sisters and other PTI leaders precede the party’s nationwide protest on September 27 in Islamabad. On Thursday, Justice Abher Gul Khan heard a petition challenging Uzma and Noreen’s detention, filed by their daughter Sakeena Niazi. Their legal counsel, Barrister Taimur Malik and Advocate Rana Mudassir, argued that the women were “nonpolitical” and had been detained without justification.

They noted that Uzma had already been acquitted in another case, and provided a copy of the trial court’s innocent verdict. The lawyers also submitted two recent LHC orders setting aside preventive detention for other PTI-affiliated individuals. The court requested a report from relevant parties and a hearing before deciding on the suspension request.

It then issued notices to the respondents, including the Lahore deputy commissioner, capital city police officer, Home Department secretary, and Kot Lakhpat jail superintendent. The LHC will resume hearing the petition on Thursday. Meanwhile, the Islamabad High Court summoned the senior superintendent of police (operations) to address alleged harassment of PTI leaders and home raids.

Punjab Inspector General Rao Abdul Kareem warned that anyone violating the law on September 27 would face strict consequences, as the Punjab government imposed a 13-day gathering ban and prohibited unlawful assemblies.