LHC rejects plea for immediate suspension of Noreen and Uzma's detention

The Lahore High Court on Thursday issued notices to government officials on a petition challenging the 30-day detention of Dr Uzma Khan and Noreen Niazi, sisters of PTI founder Imran Khan.
Justice Abher Gul Khan declined to immediately suspend the detention orders. He said the court would first hear the position of the relevant authorities before deciding the request.

Noreen’s daughter, Sakeena Niazi, filed the petition against the detention of the two women. They were taken into custody on Monday under the Punjab Maintenance of Public Order Ordinance, 1960.

Their lawyers, Barrister Taimur Malik and Advocate Rana Mudassir, stated that Uzma and Noreen were not involved in politics and questioned the grounds for their detention.

The lawyers also informed the court that Uzma had been acquitted in a case registered against her. They submitted a copy of the trial court’s decision to the bench. They further referred to two recent orders by the LHC’s Multan bench in which the preventive detention of two PTI-affiliated individuals was set aside.

The lawyers asked the court to suspend the detention notifications immediately.

The bench instead sought replies from the Lahore deputy commissioner, capital city police officer, Home Department secretary and Kot Lakhpat jail superintendent.

Uzma and Noreen were detained a day after their sister Aleema Khan was taken into custody for 30 days. Their detention came ahead of the PTI’s planned Sept 27 protest and march towards Islamabad.