The Lahore High Court (LHC) on Friday sought reports on the provision of medicines, clothes and other basic necessities to Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan’s sisters Aleema Khan, Uzma Khan and Noreen Niazi, who were detained under the Section 3 of the Maintenance of Public Order (MPO) Ordinance.
Justice Abher Gul Khan was hearing petitions challenging the sisters’ detention orders, along with miscellaneous applications seeking access to essential items for the detained women.
The applications were filed by Aleema’s son, Shahrez Khan, and Noreen’s daughter, Sakeena Niazi, through their counsel, Rana Mudassar Umar. The counsel asked the court to ensure that the women were provided with medicines, clothes, books, and other necessities.
During the hearing, the counsel said 19 days had passed, but the required medicines and clothes had not been provided to the women. He also informed the court that separate miscellaneous applications had been filed seeking basic necessities for Uzma and Noreen.
Justice Abher questioned the counsel, observing that clothes and medicines had already been provided to the women, but they had subsequently claimed that nothing had been supplied.
The counsel clarified that the items had been provided in compliance with the court’s order. He requested that jail authorities also be directed to allow medicines, clothes, books and other essential items for Uzma and Noreen.
Read: PTI condemns Aleema Khan’s arrest as Lahore DC orders 30-day detention
The judge asked the counsel to submit a written list of the required items, observing that only those specifically authorised by the court would be allowed into the jail. The court declined to allow food items, with the judge observing that the request could not be granted.
Justice Abher said reports would be sought on the miscellaneous applications seeking the provision of essential items.
The counsel also requested that the court hear the main petitions challenging the sisters’ detention orders. The judge, however, said the immediate priority was to ensure the delivery of medicines and clothes, adding that the main petitions could be taken up later.
The judge told the counsel that he would have to set aside the miscellaneous applications if he wished to argue the main petitions, asking him to decide how he wanted to proceed.
The court adjourned further proceedings on the petitions challenging the detention of Aleema, Uzma and Noreen until October 12.
The three sisters were detained for 30 days under Section 3 of the MPO, 1960, ahead of the PTI’s planned protest march towards Islamabad. Aleema was detained on September 20, while Dr Uzma and Noreen were taken into custody a day later.
Read more: Sept 27 protest call irrevocable: Gohar
The Lahore administration’s detention orders cited police reports alleging that the women had been involved in the May 9, 2023 protests and road blockades, and had been mobilising party workers. PTI challenged the orders in the LHC, seeking their immediate release.
The high court declined to suspend the detention orders immediately and sought responses from the relevant authorities. In a separate application concerning Aleema’s detention conditions, the Punjab government later told the court that she had been provided with basic facilities and essential items, including clothes, bedding and toiletries. The court disposed of that application after receiving the government’s report.
However, on September 30, Imran’s cousin Qasim Zaman claimed that the three women had gone on a 48-hour hunger strike at Kot Lakhpat Jail, alleging that essential items had not been provided despite the court’s directions. He also said the family was concerned about their access to relatives and lawyers.
