LHC seeks reports on Aleema's detention

Declines to suspend DC's order

LAHORE:

The Lahore High Court (LHC) on Friday sought reports from relevant authorities on a petition challenging the detention of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan's sister Aleema Khan and her driver after provincial law officers told the court that the home secretary had fixed September 28 for a review hearing on the detention.

Aleema Khan was detained for 30 days under the Maintenance of Public Order (MPO) law through an order issued by the Lahore administration. The petition sought judicial intervention against the detention order, while the government placed on record that the home secretary would hear the matter on September 28.

LHC Justice Abher Gul Khan heard the petition filed by Aleema's son Shahraiz, challenging the detention of his mother and her driver.

At the outset of the hearing, Punjab law officers placed before the court a letter stating that the home secretary had fixed Monday, September 28, for a review hearing on Aleema's detention order. The law officer asked the court to dispose of the petition, saying the competent authority would review the matter on that date.

The petitioner's counsel, Rana Mudassar Umar, opposed the request, arguing that the government was causing a procedural delay and that the detention order should be examined independently by the court.

He argued that the order appeared to have been issued on the basis of vague reports and after the alleged arrest, describing it as an "ante-dated" order. The counsel therefore asked the court to immediately suspend the detention order instead of waiting for the administrative review scheduled for September 28.

The court declined to suspend the order at this stage and instead sought reports from the Punjab home secretary, Lahore deputy commissioner (DC) and Superintendent of Jail.

Shortly afterwards, Umar filed the application and asked the court to take it up for hearing on the same day.