Key Takeaways
- Lahore High Court dismissed a petition seeking the release of Imran Khan’s sisters.
- Punjab government extended the preventive detention of Aleema, Uzma, and Noreen for another 30 days.
- Detention orders were issued under the Punjab Maintenance of Public Order Ordinance, 1960.
The Lahore High Court (LHC) has dismissed a petition seeking the release of PTI founder Imran Khan’s three sisters, Aleema, Uzma, and Noreen, after the Punjab government extended their preventive detention for another 30 days.
During the hearing, an assistant advocate general of Punjab informed Justice Abher Gul Khan that the government had approved the further detention of the sisters on the recommendation of the Lahore deputy commissioner.
The detention orders were extended on October 7, according to the report submitted by the law officer on behalf of the home secretary.
The judge observed that the deputy commissioner had issued the detention notifications, but the petitioner had not made the official a respondent in the petition. He held that the court could not issue an order beyond the scope of the petition.
Justice Khan disposed of the petition after reviewing the home secretary's report, which stated that the detention orders had been extended.
The petition was filed by Aleema’s son, Shahrez, who was represented by counsel Rana Mudassar Umar. The petition alleged that the continuous detention beyond the notified period was unlawful and that the sisters were not wanted in any criminal case.
Imran’s sisters were detained in September under Section 3 of the Punjab Maintenance of Public Order (MPO) Ordinance, 1960, as the PTI prepared for a planned protest march towards Islamabad.
Aleema was detained on September 20, while Uzma and Noreen were taken into custody on September 21. Their initial detention orders were issued for 30 days and expired on October 19 for Aleema and October 20 for Uzma and Noreen.
Despite the expiry of their initial detention periods, the sisters remained confined at Kot Lakhpat jail.
