LHC declines immediate suspension of detention orders against Noreen, Uzma

Seeks replies from the relevant authorities on their petitions challenging the detentions

LAHORE:

The Lahore High Court (LHC) on Thursday declined an immediate request to suspend the detention notifications issued against Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan’s sisters, Dr Uzma Khan and Noreen Niazi, and sought replies from the relevant authorities on their petitions challenging the detentions.

Uzma and Noreen had been taken into custody a few days earlier for 30 days under the Punjab Maintenance of Public Order Ordinance 1960 (MPO), a day after their sister Aleema Khan was detained. The detentions of Imran’s sisters and other PTI leaders came ahead of the party’s planned countrywide protest on September 27 and march to Islamabad.

Justice Abher Gul Khan heard the petitions today, while lawyers Rana Mudassar Umar and Barrister Taimur appeared on behalf of the petitioners.

During the proceedings, Umar asked the court to suspend the detention notifications, saying he wanted to place certain facts before the bench.

“Both women are housewives, and Dr Uzma has already been found innocent in the case registered against her,” the counsel submitted. He also told the court that a copy of the trial court’s decision had been attached to the petition.

Read: Imran's sisters challenge 30-day detention in LHC, seek immediate release

The court declined to suspend the notifications at this stage and instead directed the relevant authorities to submit their reports and replies. “Let us seek reports from the relevant parties,” Justice Khan observed.

The petitions sought the annulment of detention notifications issued by the deputy commissioner. The court subsequently issued notices to the respondents, seeking their replies on the pleas. The respondents included the Lahore deputy commissioner, capital city police officer, secretary of the Home Department and superintendent of Kot Lakhpat jail.

Noreen’s daughter, Sakina, and others had also approached the high court through Rana Mudassar Umar, challenging the detention orders.

A few days earlier, Justice Gul, while hearing a petition challenging the detention of Aleema and her driver, had sought arguments on the maintainability of the plea.

Imran's sisters detained under MPO

Uzma and Noreen were detained for 30 days under Section 3 of the Punjab Maintenance of Public Order Ordinance 1960, a day after their sister Aleema Khan was detained under the same law. The detentions came ahead of the PTI’s planned September 27 countrywide protest and march towards Islamabad.

The Lahore deputy commissioner’s orders cited police reports alleging that the two women’s activities were “prejudicial to the public safety and maintenance of public order” and linked them to the May 9, 2023 protests and road blockades. The orders also said multiple cases had been registered against them.

On September 21, Aleema’s son Shahraiz Khan approached the LHC challenging the detention orders against his mother and her two sisters. The petition argued that the orders were unlawful and failed to establish any specific conduct warranting preventive detention.

A day later, the LHC sought further arguments on the maintainability of a separate petition challenging Aleema and her driver Muhammad Ameer’s detention. Their counsel argued that the detention proceedings appeared to have been initiated after they had already been taken into custody, pointing to the timing of the District Intelligence Committee meeting and the issuance of the detention notification.