Key Takeaways
- Punjab government informs Lahore High Court that Aleema Khan has been provided basic amenities.
- Aleema was detained on September 20 under the Maintenance of Public Order Ordinance.
- Justice Abher Gul Khan dismissed the petition filed by Aleema’s son.
The Punjab government has informed the Lahore High Court (LHC) that Aleema Khan, a sister of PTI founder Imran Khan, has been provided with basic facilities and essential items while in jail. This development comes amid reports of a potential crackdown on the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party ahead of its September 27 nationwide protest and march to Islamabad.
According to the report submitted by Assistant Advocate General Farrukh Khan Lodhi, Aleema has been given a bedsheet, blanket, shoes, six suits, and a towel. She was also provided with personal hygiene items such as face wash, a toothbrush, a skincare kit, and a shawl.
The report detailed that these provisions were made in accordance with the law and in response to a petition filed by Shahraiz Khan, Aleema’s son. The Lahore High Court judge, Justice Abher Gul Khan, disposed of the petition and directed the home secretary to decide on the petitioner’s request for permission to meet Aleema.
The government’s stance is that Aleema’s detention and provision of basic facilities are in line with legal requirements. The move is seen as a response to ongoing political tensions and the upcoming nationwide protest by the PTI party.
The detention of Aleema Khan follows the Lahore deputy commissioner’s order on September 20, which was part of a broader crackdown on the PTI ahead of the planned protest. The party had called for the release of Imran Khan and mobilised supporters for the march to Islamabad.
The Lahore High Court’s decision to dismiss the petition and the government’s provision of basic facilities to Aleema are part of the ongoing legal and political dynamics surrounding the PTI and its leadership.
The case highlights the complex interplay between legal procedures, political activism, and the judiciary in Pakistan, particularly in the context of the upcoming nationwide protest and the release of Imran Khan.
