LHC Seeks Punjab Report on Aleema Khan’s 30-Day MPO Detention
LAHORE, PAKISTAN — WEB DESK: The Lahore High Court (LHC) on Friday sought a response from the Punjab home secretary on a petition challenging the 30-day preventive detention of Aleema Khan, sister of PTI founder and former prime minister Imran Khan, under the Maintenance of Public Order law.
Justice Abher Gul Khan heard the petition challenging the detention order issued by the Lahore deputy commissioner. The court issued notice to the home secretary and sought a response rather than immediately deciding the legality of the detention.
Aleema was detained on September 20 after the Lahore deputy commissioner ordered her detention for 30 days. The order cited police reports alleging that her activities were prejudicial to public safety and the maintenance of public order.
The detention came days before PTI’s planned September 27 protest and march towards Islamabad.
Punjab Seeks Disposal of Petition
During Friday’s hearing, a Punjab government law officer asked the LHC to dispose of the petition, telling the court that the Punjab home secretary had already scheduled a hearing for September 28 to review the detention order issued by the Lahore deputy commissioner.
The court did not dispose of the matter at that stage and instead issued notice to the home secretary for a formal response.
The development follows an earlier hearing on September 22, when the LHC sought arguments on whether the petition challenging Aleema’s detention was maintainable.
At that hearing, the petitioner’s counsel argued that Aleema appeared to have been taken into custody before the detention process had been formally completed.
Counsel told the court that the District Intelligence Committee meeting and the detention notification occurred on the same day and alleged that the detention notification was issued after Aleema had already been taken into custody. These assertions remain arguments made by her legal team and have not yet been established as judicial findings.
Son Challenges Mother’s Detention
Aleema’s son Shahraiz Khan filed the petition challenging his mother’s detention.
The petition argues that the Lahore deputy commissioner failed to follow the procedure required under Section 3 of the Maintenance of Public Order Ordinance. It further contends that the detention order lacks specific allegations and that less restrictive legal measures were not adequately considered.
The petition also alleges that the grounds for detention were not communicated within the legally required period.
Aleema’s lawyers have asked the LHC to set aside the detention order and declare it unlawful. The court has not yet made such a finding.
Family Raises Concerns Over Medicines
Aleema’s legal team also raised concerns about her conditions in custody.
Barrister Taimur Malik told the court that Aleema was experiencing difficulties receiving medicines and other essential items in jail. Justice Abher Gul Khan directed the lawyer to submit a separate application concerning those issues.
Geo News reported that the family was seeking permission to provide medicines and clothes to Aleema while she remains in custody.
She has been held at Kot Lakhpat Jail in Lahore following her detention.
Aleema’s Sisters Also Detained
The case is part of a broader legal dispute involving Imran Khan’s sisters.
A day after Aleema’s detention, her sisters Dr Uzma Khan and Noreen Niazi were also detained for 30 days under the MPO following orders issued by the Lahore deputy commissioner.
Their detention orders have also been challenged before the Lahore High Court.
On Thursday, the LHC declined a request to immediately suspend the detention notifications against Dr Uzma and Noreen, instead issuing notices and seeking responses from the relevant authorities.
The respondents include the Lahore deputy commissioner, Lahore capital city police officer, Punjab Home Department secretary and Kot Lakhpat Jail superintendent.
Detentions Come Ahead of PTI March
The detentions have taken place amid heightened political tensions ahead of PTI’s planned September 27 mobilisation.
PTI says the protest and march towards Islamabad are intended to press for Imran Khan’s release and what the party describes as the supremacy of the Constitution.
The timing has led PTI to criticise the detentions as part of a crackdown on its leadership and supporters. The government and administrative authorities, however, have relied on public-order grounds in issuing the preventive detention orders. These remain competing political and legal positions while the cases are before the courts.
Friday’s LHC proceedings did not result in Aleema Khan’s release or cancellation of her detention order.
The immediate development is that the court has sought the Punjab home secretary’s response, while the administrative review of the detention order is scheduled for September 28.
