LHC seeks reply on Aleema Khan detention plea

The Lahore High Court (LHC) recently requested a response from the Punjab home secretary regarding a legal challenge to the detention of Imran Khan's sister, Aleema Khan. Aleema was arrested on September 20 after her detention or arrest for 30 days was ordered by the Lahore deputy commissioner (DC). The DC's decision was based on a letter from the city police officer, which cited reports that Aleema and Ameer were a threat to public safety and order.

Justice Abher Gul Khan has been presiding over the petition hearings. During a previous hearing, the judge asked for arguments on the petition's validity. A Punjab government law officer argued that the home secretary had already set a hearing to review the detention order on September 28; however, the judge asked the home secretary to submit a reply to the petition.

Barrister Taimur Malik, representing Aleema, mentioned that she was struggling to obtain her medicines and other necessities while in jail. The judge ordered counsel to file a separate application addressing this concern. Aleema's detention occurred during concerns about a crackdown on the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) ahead of its nationwide protest and march to Islamabad, which was organized to push for Imran's release and support the Constitution.

After Aleema's arrest, her two sisters, Dr Uzma Khan and Noreen Niazi, were also detained under the Maintenance of Public Order (MPO) ordinance. The day before Aleema's detention, the LHC rejected a request to immediately suspend the preventive detention notifications for Noreen and Dr Uzma. The petition challenges the DC's detention orders, claiming they were issued unlawfully and without following the correct procedure under Section 3 of the MPO Ordinance.

The petition argues that no specific allegations were made and that the orders lacked any discernment. Additionally, it states that ordinary criminal laws and less restrictive measures were not considered, and the grounds for detention were not communicated within the required timeframe. The petition seeks the court's intervention to quash the detention orders issued by the Lahore DC.