LHC seeks report from Punjab govt on Imran Khan's sisters detention

• Petitioners ask LHC to declare Oct 7 detention notification illegal. 
• Justice Abher Gul says court had sought reports in both cases.
• PTI secretary general requests leniency in Aleema's driver case.

LAHORE: The Lahore High Court (LHC) on Monday sought reports from the Punjab government by 2pm on petitions challenging the continued detention of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan's sisters.

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 hearing, PTI Secretary General Salman Akram Raja informed 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.