Summary
A petition has been filed in the Lahore High Court challenging the detention of Imran Khan’s three sisters, Aleema Khan, Dr Uzma Khan and Noreen Niazi. All three were ordered detained for 30 days under the Maintenance of Public Order Ordinance, in what their family calls an unlawful crackdown timed to PTI’s upcoming protest march.
Background
Aleema Khan was the first to be detained, picked up on Sunday while travelling with her driver for what her family describes as personal work. Her petition states there was no public gathering or disturbance at the time that could justify invoking public-order legislation against her.
Within a short span, authorities issued similar 30-day detention orders against her sisters, Dr Uzma Khan and Noreen Niazi. All three detentions came as security agencies intensified action against PTI figures ahead of the party’s planned march into Islamabad on September 27.
Details of the Petition
The petition was filed by Aleema Khan’s son through advocate Rana Mudassar Umar, seeking the annulment of all three detention orders and the immediate release of his mother and aunts. It names the Lahore deputy commissioner’s office as having acted without lawful basis.
According to the petition, the orders contain no specific allegations against any of the three women individually, and authorities did not follow the procedure required under Section 3 of the MPO Ordinance. It further argues officials failed to consider ordinary criminal law or any less restrictive measure before resorting to preventive detention.
The petition also challenges the timing of the paperwork, alleging that the formal grounds for detention were not communicated within the legally required window and that the orders were issued only after the arrests had already occurred.
Separately, the petition notes that Aleema Khan had sought pre-arrest bail in a related case for roughly a year and a half, and that police investigators had already found she was not present at the scene in question. Her lawyers argue the same case is now being used, despite that earlier clearance, as partial justification for her detention.
Quotes and Legal Arguments
Aleema Khan’s legal team told the court that the sequence of the paperwork raised serious doubts about whether due process was followed, since the detention review and formal notification appeared to have been issued on the same day. They argued this pattern suggested the arrest came first and the legal justification was assembled afterward.
The court was told that bail remained pending in a small number of other cases against Aleema Khan, a point raised when the bench asked whether she had already secured bail everywhere else.
Impact
The case is being closely watched as a test of how far preventive detention laws can be used against political opponents’ family members who are not themselves accused of a specific crime. A ruling against the detentions could set a precedent limiting similar orders during future PTI demonstrations.
Regionally, the case has added to tensions between PTI and the Punjab government just days before the planned Islamabad march, with PTI supporters framing the detentions as part of a broader pattern of pressure on the party’s leadership and their families.
Conclusion
The Lahore High Court has yet to rule on whether the petition can proceed, with arguments on maintainability continuing at the next hearing. Until a decision is made, Aleema Khan, Dr Uzma Khan and Noreen Niazi remain under detention, and further developments are expected as the September 27 protest date approaches.
FAQs
Is Aleema Khan a sister of Imran Khan?
Yes. She is one of Imran Khan’s sisters and has repeatedly taken up legal and public advocacy on matters connected to his imprisonment, including this latest detention case involving herself and her siblings.
Where is Aleema Khan now?
She is being held under a 30-day detention order issued by the Lahore deputy commissioner, with her petition pending before the Lahore High Court. Her exact release timeline depends on the outcome of the ongoing hearings.
Is Dr. Uzma Khan Imran Khan’s sister?
Yes, Dr Uzma Khan is another of Imran Khan’s sisters. She was detained for 30 days around the same time as Aleema Khan and Noreen Niazi, and all three detentions are being challenged together in the same Lahore High Court petition.
