LHC Seeks Report On Facilities For Imran Khan's Sisters

The Lahore High Court on Friday sought a report from jail authorities about the provision of medicines, clothes and other basic facilities to the detained sisters of PTI founder Imran Khan. The matter was taken up in Lahore as lawyers for the family pressed concerns over access to essential items during their continued detention.

The case concerns Aleema Khan, Noreen Niazi and Dr Uzma Khan, who have been held under the Maintenance of Public Order Ordinance. Dr Uzma Khan and Noreen were detained for 30 days on September 21 before a planned PTI protest, while Aleema Khan had been detained a day earlier.

Justice Abher Gul Khan heard civil miscellaneous applications filed by Aleema Khan’s son Shahzair Khan and Noreen Niazi’s daughter Sakeena Niazi. The applications were connected to earlier petitions challenging the alleged denial of medicines and meetings with family members and legal counsel.

During the hearing, the petitioners’ counsel Rana Mudassar Umar told the court that 19 days had passed since the detention of the three sisters, yet they had not been provided with medicines and clothes. The court noted that Aleema Khan had received clothes and medicines, but her lawyer argued that those items were provided only after court directions and not before.

The counsel asked the court to direct the jail authorities to allow Noreen Niazi to receive books, medicines and other essential items. Justice Khan asked the lawyer to specify the required items and observed that only items ordered by the court would be permitted into the jail.

The petitioners also sought permission to provide medicines, clothes, books and food items to the detained women. The judge said reports would be sought from the jail superintendent on the applications before further directions were issued.

The lawyer also requested that the court hear the main petition challenging the preventive detention orders. Justice Khan observed that the court would first deal with the issue of medicines and clothes, then take up the main petition after those items had been delivered.

The hearing was adjourned until October 12. The case is unfolding amid wider political tension, with PTI’s long march continuing and reports of arrests and detentions involving party workers, lawmakers and relatives of the jailed former prime minister.

Earlier, the court had declined a request to immediately suspend the detention notifications issued against Noreen Niazi and Dr Uzma Khan. The latest hearing now shifts attention to jail conditions and whether basic rights and family access are being handled according to legal requirements.