Petition in LHC challenges detention of Imran's sisters under MPO

The detention of former prime minister and PTI founder Imran Khan’s three sisters has been challenged before the Lahore High Court (LHC).

A petition was filed by Shahraiz Khan, son of Imran’s sister Aleema Khan, through Advocate Rana Mudassar Umar. It challenged the 30-day detention orders issued by the Lahore deputy commissioner against Aleema and her two sisters, Dr Uzma Khan and Noreen Niazi.

Dr Uzma and Noreen were detained earlier on Monday under the Maintenance of Public Order (MPO) Ordinance. Their detention came ahead of PTI’s planned protest on September 27.

Aleema was detained a day earlier after the Lahore deputy commissioner issued a 30-day detention order against her.

The petition argues that the deputy commissioner did not have lawful grounds to issue the detention orders and failed to follow the procedure required under Section 3 of the MPO Ordinance.

According to the plea, the detention orders do not mention any specific allegations against the three women and show a lack of proper application of mind by the authorities.

The petitioner has also argued that the authorities did not consider ordinary criminal law or other less restrictive measures before ordering their detention.

Another ground raised in the petition is that the reasons for the detention were not communicated to the detainees within the legally required period.

The plea alleges that the detention orders were issued only after the arrests had already taken place. The petitioner has pleaded with the LHC to declare the detention orders unlawful and set them aside.