Imran Khan's sister Noreen Niazi moved from jail to Lahore cardiology hospital

Noreen Niazi, the 70-year-old sister of PTI founder Imran Khan, was admitted to the Punjab Institute of Cardiology in Lahore on Wednesday after her health deteriorated in custody, according to her legal counsel, Rana Mudassar Umer. She had been held at Kot Lakhpat Jail.

Umer said Noreen Niazi had been transferred to the hospital because her health was getting worse in jail. He also said no family member was informed of the transfer. Minute Mirror reported that he confirmed her hospitalisation in a post on X.

Reports differed on details of her condition. Daily Pakistan reported that she developed chest pain and difficulty breathing and arrived at the emergency department at 6:51pm, with doctors examining her for a possible heart attack. Express News, citing PTI sources, said several blood tests were being carried out and that she was being treated in a private room in the structural heart disease department.

PTI expressed serious concern over her condition and accused the government of harassing and mistreating Imran Khan's sister and other family members for political reasons. The party said the most shameful thing was that, despite such a grave situation, not even a single family member was informed about her transfer to the hospital. It also said that if anything happens to her, the entire responsibility will lie directly with the current rulers and the relevant administration.

Imran Khan's sisters were detained in September under Section 3 of the Punjab Maintenance of Public Order Ordinance, 1960, as PTI prepared for a planned protest march towards Islamabad. Aleema was detained on September 20, while Uzma and Noreen were taken into custody on September 21. The first detention orders ran for 30 days, and on October 7 their detention at Kot Lakhpat Jail was extended by another 30 days.

On October 26, the Lahore High Court disposed of a petition seeking the release of the three sisters after the Punjab government confirmed that their detention had been extended by 30 days.

On Thursday, Adviser to the Prime Minister on Political Affairs Rana Sanaullah told the Senate that Noreen Niazi was taken to hospital immediately when she fell ill, that her condition is stable and that all her medical tests were normal. He said he would seek clarification from the relevant authorities and try to ensure her family members could visit her. He was responding to a query from PTI parliamentary leader Barrister Ali Zafar.

Meanwhile, PTI Senator Mishal Yousafzai said Noreen Niazi was in the ICU and called for the sisters' release from detention. Ali Amin Gandapur also called for the release of all of Imran Khan's sisters. The reports do not reconcile the ICU claim with the government's account.