The Lahore High Court on Friday asked the lawyer representing Noreen Niazi, sister of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan, to move a separate application before the court for her medical treatment and permission to meet her family, following her recent hospitalisation while in preventive detention.
On Wednesday, Noreen, 70, was admitted to Punjab Institute of Cardiology (PIC) following a deterioration in her health while in custody, according to her legal counsel.
“Noreen Niazi Sahiba has been transferred to PIC due to deteriorating health in jail,” her legal counsel, Rana Mudassar Umer, said on X.
نورین نیازی صاحبہ کی جیل میں طبعیت خراب ہونے پر پنجاب کارڈیالوجی منتقل کیا گیا ہے۔ ان کی صحت کیلئے دعاؤں کی درخواست ہے۔ 70 سالہ نورین نیازی غیر قانونی نظر بند ہیں اور ان کی ہسپتال منتقلی پر کسی خاندان کے شخص کو اطلاع نہیں دی گئی۔ pic.twitter.com/IRXs29TcWV
— Rana Mudassar Umer (@MudassarUmer4) October 28, 2026
Justice Abher Gul Khan issued the direction during the hearing of a petition moved by Sakeena Niazi, who has challenged the continued detention of Imran’s sisters, Noreen and Dr Uzma Khan, under the Maintenance of Public Order (MPO) law.
The court sought clarification on whether the petitioner had formally approached the authorities for medical facilities and family meetings.
Advocate Umer, appearing for the petitioner, informed the court that an application had already been submitted to the deputy commissioner.
The judge, however, directed him to place the matter before the court through a separate civil miscellaneous application as well.
During the proceedings, Advocate Umar questioned the legal basis for extending the detention of the two women, maintaining that the latest detention orders were virtually identical to the earlier ones, with only their dates altered.
He argued that there was no justification for keeping the sisters behind bars and that suspension of the fresh detention notifications would result in their release.
Read: Sana assures family access to Noreen
Referring to Noreen’s hospitalisation, he said she had no previous history of heart disease and questioned what circumstances during her detention had led to her being taken to hospital.
PTI Secretary General Salman Akram Raja also appeared before the court and raised concerns over Noreen’s medical condition.
He told the judge that she was unwell and had reportedly been shifted to the intensive care unit (ICU), but neither her relatives nor her legal representative had been permitted to see her.
Raja further said he had no confirmed information about whether Noreen was still receiving treatment at the hospital or had been transferred back to jail.
The court also asked about the return of the home secretary, who was reportedly abroad. Additional Advocate General Nasir Chohan told the judge that he would verify the information and update the court.
Read more: Imran Khan’s sister Noreen taken to Punjab Institute of Cardiology after health issue in jail: lawyer
It is pertinent to mention that Imran’s sisters were taken into custody in September under Section 3 of the MPO as the PTI prepared for a protest march towards Islamabad.
Their initial detention was ordered for 30 days, due to expire on October 19 in Aleema’s case and October 20 in the cases of Uzma and Noreen.
Despite the expiry of the initial detention period, the women remained incarcerated. The provincial government subsequently informed the LHC on October 7 that their detention had been extended.
A day earlier, Adviser to the Prime Minister on Political Affairs Rana Sanaullah said the government would look into reports that relatives of PTI founder’s sister, Noreen, were not allowed to visit her in custody, and would work to ensure they are granted access.
“Let me ask the relevant authorities about the claim that the relatives of Noreen Niazi have not been allowed to see her,” Sanaullah said.
“We will try to have her relatives granted access to her,” he added.
Speaking about Noreen’s health, Sanaullah said she had been transferred to hospital for treatment immediately after she complained of poor health. He said her condition was stable and that all her medical tests had returned normal results.
