Imran Khan’s nephew has approached the Lahore High Court, arguing that the continued detention of Aleema Khan, Noreen Niazi and Uzma Khan is unlawful after their 30-day detention orders expired.
LAHORE: A fresh petition has been filed in the Lahore High Court seeking the release of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf founder Imran Khan’s three sisters, who remain in custody despite the expiry of their 30-day detention period.
Shahrez Khan, the son of Aleema Khan, approached the court on Wednesday, requesting the production and release of his mother and his aunts, Noreen Niazi and Uzma Khan.
The three women were detained in September under the Punjab Maintenance of Public Order Ordinance, 1960, as the PTI prepared for a planned protest march toward Islamabad.
According to the petition, the detention orders were issued on Sept. 20 and expired on Oct. 19. However, the women remain held at Lahore’s Kot Lakhpat jail despite requests for their release.
Filed through Advocate Rana Mudassar Umar, the petition names the Punjab home secretary, inspector general of police, Lahore capital city police officer and Kot Lakhpat jail superintendent as respondents.
The petitioner argues that keeping the three women in custody beyond the stipulated period is unlawful and violates their fundamental rights. He maintains that they are not wanted in any criminal case and expresses concern that they could face what he describes as false criminal charges if they are not released.
The petition also alleges that the detentions are linked to the sisters’ efforts to secure their brother’s release. It argues that preventive detention should not be used as a substitute for proceedings under ordinary criminal law.
The petitioner has asked the court to declare the detention orders invalid and suspend their operation. He has also requested directions for the jail superintendent to produce the three women before the court and release them.
The petition places the legality of the continued detention before the high court, with the petitioner challenging the authorities’ decision to keep the women in custody after the stated expiry of their detention orders.
The case has been scheduled for a hearing on Thursday before Justice Abher Gul Khan.
The court’s decision on the petition will determine the next legal step in the challenge to the women’s continued detention.
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