Pakistani court declines to immediately suspend detention of Imran Khan’s sisters — Dawn
The Lahore High Court in Pakistan declined a request to immediately suspend the preventive detention orders for Dr Uzma Khan and Noreen Niazi, sisters of PTI founder Imran Khan. The court issued notices to the respondents in the case and sought their responses, Dawn reports.
Detention petition
The petition concerning the detention of Uzma Khan and Noreen Niazi was heard by Justice Abher Gul Khan. It was filed by Sakina Niazi, Noreen Niazi’s daughter. The respondents are the Lahore deputy commissioner, the city police chief, the home department secretary and the superintendent of Kot Lakhpat Jail.
Lawyers Taimur Malik and Rana Mudassir said that neither woman is involved in politics and that they were detained without proper grounds. The defence also stated that Uzma Khan had previously been acquitted in one case, and a copy of the relevant trial court ruling was attached to the case materials.
The lawyers submitted copies of two recent rulings by a Lahore High Court bench in Multan that overturned the preventive detention of people associated with PTI. They requested the immediate suspension of the detention orders for Imran Khan’s sisters.
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Further proceedings
The judge said that before deciding on a suspension, the court must obtain a report from the relevant parties and hear their position.
Uzma Khan and Noreen Niazi were detained on Monday for 30 days under the Punjab Maintenance of Public Order Ordinance, 1960. This occurred the day after their sister Aleema Khan was detained. The detentions took place ahead of a nationwide protest and march on Islamabad planned by PTI for September 27.
Separately, Punjab Inspector General of Police Rao Abdul Karim said strict action would be taken against lawbreakers on September 27. Punjab authorities imposed a 13-day ban on gatherings across the province and requested the deployment of Rangers in several districts until October 5.
