LAHORE: The Lahore High Court (LHC) on Monday summoned the Lahore deputy commissioner (DC) over extensions in the detention of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan’s sisters, while ordering a meeting between Noreen Niazi and her daughters.
Justice Abher Gul Khan issued the directions while hearing petitions filed by Aleema Khan’s son, Shahrez Khan, and Sakeena Bibi concerning the detention of Aleema, Dr Uzma Khan and Noreen Niazi, as well as the latter’s medical treatment.
Noreen was shifted from Lahore’s Kot Lakhpat jail to the Punjab Institute of Cardiology on October 28 after experiencing heart-related discomfort.
Lawyer Rana Mudassar Umar said Noreen had experienced discomfort in her heart while detained at Kot Lakhpat jail, following which she was taken to the hospital.
Aleema, Noreen and Uzma have remained in custody since last month under the Maintenance of Public Order (MPO) Ordinance in connection with the PTI’s anti-government protest.
Noreen and Uzma were detained for 30 days on September 21, shortly before the PTI’s planned September 27 protest, which was subsequently moved to October 4. Aleema’s detention had taken place a day earlier, on September 20.
The Punjab government had told the court in late October that it had extended the detention of the three sisters. A government lawyer had told the LHC that the detention was extended by another 30 days on recommendation by the deputy commissioner.
During today’s proceedings, the LHC directed the Lahore DC to appear in person on November 4, while ordering that Noreen’s two daughters be allowed to meet their mother in jail at 10am tomorrow (Tuesday) for an hour.
The court directed the petitioner’s lawyer to submit an application to the Lahore DC regarding the meeting and ordered the deputy commissioner to arrange it on the basis of that request.
During the hearing, a lawyer representing the Punjab government informed the court that Noreen had received treatment at a hospital and was subsequently transferred back to jail on doctors’ advice.
The government lawyer further submitted that Noreen’s daughter, Hajra Niazi, had already met her mother on October 29 during her hospital treatment.
Separately, lawyer Rana Mudassar Umar told the court that the three sisters had spent 44 days in jail without committing any offence and requested that a report in Aleema’s case also be summoned by November 4.
Justice Khan responded by saying that the court would examine the matter.
PTI Secretary General Salman Akram Raja previously told the court that Aleema’s driver had also been detained, arguing the driver was a non-political individual and requested leniency in his case.
Justice Khan said the court had sought reports in both cases and would examine them before proceeding further.
The judge also questioned why a separate petition had not been filed for the driver if his detention was a distinct concern.
“You have filed the applications together, so we will seek the reports together as well,” he observed.
The petitioners had said that the initial 30-day detention period had expired before the Lahore deputy commissioner issued a notification extending the detention on October 7.
They requested the court to declare the October 7 detention notification illegal and set it aside.
