Imran Khan’s sisters Uzma Khan and Noreen Niazi have been detained for 30 days under Pakistan’s Maintenance of Public Order law….reports Asian Lite News Desk
Former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan’s sisters Uzma Khan and Noreen Niazi have been detained for 30 days in Lahore, a day after their sister Aleema Khan was also detained, according to Pakistani authorities and local media.
The detentions come ahead of Pakistan Tehreek e Insaf’s planned nationwide protest and march to Islamabad on September 27, which the party has said will seek Imran Khan’s release and call for constitutional supremacy.
An order issued by the Lahore Deputy Commissioner’s Office on September 20 directed that Uzma Khan and Noreen Niazi be detained for 30 days under Section 3 of the Punjab Maintenance of Public Order Ordinance, 1960. The order said the two were considered “prejudicial to the public safety and maintenance of public order”.
The sisters were subsequently moved to Kot Lakhpat Jail in Lahore, where Aleema Khan had also been transferred following her detention.
According to the detention order cited by Dawn, authorities alleged that Uzma and Noreen had been involved in the May 9 protests and had motivated supporters to damage public and government property. It also alleged that they had been mobilising supporters through social media and public meetings and could pose a threat to public peace.
The latest detentions followed the arrest of Aleema Khan on Sunday. Lahore’s Deputy Commissioner had ordered her detention for 30 days under the same law. Her driver, Muhammad Ameer, was also ordered to be detained for 30 days.
PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan condemned Aleema’s detention and described it as the “first step towards worsening the situation”. He called for her immediate release and said the party would announce its response.
In a statement, Gohar said PTI had consistently maintained that its planned march would be peaceful and political.
“We have always made it clear that our march will be peaceful and political,” he said, adding that the party wanted to pursue its constitutional and political demands through peaceful means and did not want confrontation or violence.
Aleema Khan’s family also criticised her detention. Her son, Shahrez Khan, alleged that she had been “abducted” after leaving her home and said the family had been unable to contact her.
“My mother, Aleema Khan, was abducted after leaving home this morning. Our family has had no contact or news of her whereabouts,” he said in a post on X, according to the statement provided by IANS.
Imran Khan’s son, Kasim Khan, also alleged that his aunt had been taken into custody by police and called for her family and lawyers to be given access to her.
The allegations by family members and PTI officials contrast with the authorities’ stated grounds for the detentions, which centre on public safety and maintenance of public order. The Lahore Deputy Commissioner’s orders provide the legal basis for the 30 day detentions under the Punjab Maintenance of Public Order Ordinance.
The detentions have taken place as PTI prepares for its September 27 protest and march to Islamabad. The party has said the mobilisation is intended to demand Imran Khan’s release and press for what it describes as constitutional supremacy.
The latest action against members of Imran Khan’s family has further heightened tensions ahead of the planned demonstration. Pakistani authorities have indicated that public order considerations are central to the detention orders, while PTI has maintained that its planned political mobilisation is intended to remain peaceful.
