LHC directs jail authorities to arrange meeting between Noreen Niazi, her daughters

LAHORE: The Lahore High Court (LHC) on Monday directed jail authorities to arrange a meeting between Noreen Niazi, the sister of PTI founder Imran Khan, and her two daughters on Tuesday (tomorrow). Justice Abher Gul Khan issued the directives while hearing petitions challenging the extensions in the detention orders of Imran’s sisters Noreen, Uzma Khan and Aleema Khanum. The judge also summoned the Lahore deputy commissioner to appear in person on Nov 4 and explain the extensions in the detention orders of Noreen and Uzma Khan. Aleema and Noreen, along with their sister Uzma Khan, were detained under the Punjab Maintenance of Public Order Ordinance, 1960 in September, as the PTI geared up for a protest march to Islamabad. Their detentions have come amid reports of several PTI leaders and workers being taken into custody ahead of the march planned to demand Imran’s release from prison.

Among them, Aleema was detained on Sept 20 for 30 days and Noreen and Uzma the next day for the same period. Their detention was challenged in the court after the 30-day period lapsed last month, following which the Punjab government informed the court that their detention periods had been extended for another 30 days. During Monday’s hearing, the petitioners’ counsel Rana Mudassar Umar told the court that Noreen’s two daughters and lawyers wanted to meet her. He expressed concern over her health, saying she was an elderly woman and her actual condition could only be ascertained after meeting her. Among the three detainees, Noreen had been shifted to the Punjab Institute of Cardiology (PIC) following her deteriorating health, on the recommendation of the doctors of the Kot Lakhpat Jail, where she has been detained. Later, adviser to the prime minister on political affairs, Rana Sanaullah,…