LHC orders jail meeting between Noreen Niazi and her two daughters
The Lahore High Court on Monday ordered that Noreen Niazi, sister of PTI founder Imran Khan, be allowed to meet her two daughters in jail for one hour. The court also summoned the Deputy Commissioner Lahore to appear in person on November 4.
- The meeting is set for November 3 at 10am and will last one hour.
- The Deputy Commissioner Lahore must appear in person on November 4.
- The hearing on Aleema Khan's detention was adjourned until next week.
The Lahore High Court on Monday directed that Noreen Niazi, a sister of PTI founder Imran Khan, be allowed to meet her two daughters at the jail on Tuesday, November 3, at 10am. The meeting is to last one hour.
Justice Abher Gul Khan issued the directions while hearing petitions filed by Noreen Niazi's daughters, Sakina and Shahraiz. According to Daily Pakistan, the lawyer will apply to the Deputy Commissioner (DC) Lahore for the meeting. 24 News reported that the court directed the DC to arrange it.
The court summoned the DC Lahore to appear personally on November 4 and explain the extension of the detention of Noreen Niazi and Azma Khan. It also asked the Punjab home secretary to explain the extension and sought a report from prison authorities on Noreen Niazi's medical condition.
The Punjab Home Secretary submitted a report to the court. According to it, Noreen Niazi was taken to hospital when she was unwell, was treated there and was returned to jail on doctors' advice. The Punjab government's lawyer made the same statement in court.
Aleema Khan, Noreen Niazi and Azma Khan were taken into custody in September under the Punjab Maintenance of Public Order Ordinance 1960. Aleema Khan was detained on September 20, and the other two on September 21, each for 30 days. The Punjab government later extended the detention of all three by another 30 days on the recommendation of the DC Lahore.
The sisters have challenged the detention orders in the Lahore High Court. They argue that the arrests and extensions were illegal and that the detained women were denied meetings with family and lawyers.
The court called for a response on Aleema Khan's petition by November 4 and adjourned the hearing on the challenge to the extension until next week. 24 News reported that another daughter, Hajira Niazi, had already met her mother on October 29. Earlier, the court had sought reports from jail authorities on medicines, clothing and other basic facilities for the sisters.
Why it matters
The case concerns the detention of relatives of Imran Khan, whom readers in Pakistan follow closely. The court's orders affect the sisters' family access and the legal challenge to their extended detention.
