LHC seeks Punjab home secretary's reply on plea against Aleema's detention

The Lahore High Court (LHC) requested a response from the Punjab home secretary regarding a petition that questions the detention of Aleema Khan, sister of PTI founder Imran Khan. Aleema was arrested on September 20 following a 30-day detention order issued by Lahore’s deputy commissioner (DC), supported by a police report alleging her and her brother were a threat to public safety and order.

Judge Abher Gul Khan has been overseeing hearings on the petition. The previous hearing focused on the petition's validity, with the Punjab government asking the court to decide on the matter after a hearing was set for September 28. However, the judge issued a notice to the home secretary for a reply, while barrister Taimur Malik argued that Aleema is struggling to access her medicines and essentials while in detention.

The judge also ordered a separate application to address this issue. Aleema and her sisters, Dr Uzma Khan and Noreen Niazi, were detained after the city’s deputy commissioner ordered their arrest, citing police reports. The LHC previously rejected a request to immediately lift the preventive detention notices for Noreen and Dr Uzma.

The petition claims the DC issued the detention orders unlawfully, without following the MPO Ordinance’s procedure, and without providing specific allegations or evidence. It also argues that ordinary criminal law should have been applied and contends that the grounds for detention were not communicated in time, with the orders issued after the arrests. The petition demands that the court overturn the detention orders.