LHC rejects petitions seeking immediate suspension of Imran's sisters detention orders

• LHC rejects immediate suspension of detention notifications.
• Noreen, Uzma detained for 30 days on Lahore DC orders.
• Detentions come ahead of PTI's Islamabad march on Sept 27.
  

The Lahore High Court (LHC) on Thursday issued notices to the Punjab government and other respondents on petitions challenging the detention of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan's sisters Noreen Niazi and Dr Uzma Khan under the Maintenance of Public Order (MPO).

The Lahore deputy commissioner had ordered the detention of the two sisters for 30 days under Section 3 of the MPO on September 21, following a recommendation from the police.

Noreen and Uzma were subsequently shifted to Kot Lakhpat Jail, where their sister Aleema Khan was detained a day earlier.

The detentions came ahead of the major opposition party's planned nationwide protest and march on Islamabad on September 27 to demand ex-PM Imran's release and supremacy of the Constitution.

Justice Abher Gul Khan heard the petitions filed against the detention orders, with lawyers for Noreen and Uzma seeking their immediate suspension.

The court, however, rejected the request to suspend the detention notifications at this stage and issued notices to the respondents, seeking their replies.

Lawyer Mudassir Umar and Barrister Taimur appeared on behalf of Noreen and Uzma, while lawyer Farrukh Lodhi represented the Punjab government.

Earlier on Sunday, Aleema was detained while leaving for a gym in Lahore and was later shifted to Kot Lakhpat jail, according to sources.

Her son, Shahraiz Khan, subsequently approached the LHC, challenging the detention orders issued against his mother and her driver under the MPO.

At the September 22 hearing, the court sought arguments on the maintainability of the petition and adjourned the matter until September 25 for further arguments.