The Punjab government has extended the detention of former prime minister Imran Khan’s three sisters, Aleema Khan, Uzma Khan and Noreen Niazi, for another 30 days, the Lahore High Court was informed on Monday, October 26. The development comes as their family continues pursuing legal action against their confinement, raising fresh questions about the use of preventive detention powers against political figures.
A government lawyer informed the court that the extension had been approved following a recommendation from the deputy commissioner. The disclosure was made during proceedings concerning a petition seeking the release of the three sisters, who have been held at Lahore’s Kot Lakhpat Jail since September.
Punjab Government Approves Another 30 Days of Detention
According to the report submitted by the Punjab home secretary, the provincial government approved an additional 30 days of detention under Section 3 of the Maintenance of Public Order Ordinance, 1960, commonly known as the MPO.
Aleema Khan was initially detained in Lahore on September 20 and transferred to Kot Lakhpat Jail. Her sisters, Uzma Khan and Noreen Niazi, were detained the following day on police recommendations.
The arrests came ahead of PTI’s planned nationwide demonstrations and September 27 march towards Islamabad, organised to demand Imran Khan’s release and constitutional supremacy.
The initial detention orders were due to expire around October 19 and 20. However, rather than releasing the three women, the Punjab government approved a further extension.
Aleema Khan’s Son Challenges Detention in Lahore High Court
Aleema Khan’s son, Shahrez Khan, filed a petition before the Lahore High Court on October 20, challenging the continued detention of his mother and aunts.
During an earlier hearing, the petitioner’s lawyer argued that the original detention periods had expired, questioning the legal basis for keeping the three women in custody.
The court subsequently summoned the Punjab home secretary and the superintendent of Kot Lakhpat Jail to explain the situation.
Both officials appeared before the court in compliance with its directions, while the government’s lawyer presented the report confirming the extension.
The latest proceedings establish that the Punjab government has issued an extension, but they do not amount to a final judicial determination that the detention is lawful. The legal challenge remains important in determining whether the orders meet the requirements of the law.
Preventive Detention Powers Face Renewed Scrutiny
Section 3 of the MPO allows authorities to order preventive detention under specified public-order circumstances. Unlike imprisonment following a criminal conviction, preventive detention is intended to address anticipated threats to public order rather than punish an offence already proven in court.
However, such powers remain subject to legal and constitutional safeguards, including judicial review.
The detention of Imran Khan’s sisters has drawn attention because of their family relationship with the imprisoned PTI founder and their public participation in demonstrations demanding access to him.
The government has relied on public-order provisions to justify their confinement, while the family’s legal challenge seeks their release.
The court will need to consider the relevant detention orders, their stated grounds and whether the required legal procedures were followed.
Detentions Come Amid Wider PTI-Government Tensions
The continued detention of Aleema, Uzma and Noreen comes during a period of confrontation between PTI and the federal and provincial authorities.
The party has organised demonstrations demanding Imran Khan’s release, while restrictions on meetings with his family members and legal representatives have repeatedly become subjects of legal disputes.
The detention of his sisters adds another dimension to those disagreements, particularly because the three women have been prominent in publicly raising concerns about Khan’s imprisonment and access arrangements.
The latest extension means their confinement will continue unless the government changes its decision or a court orders otherwise.
Court Proceedings Will Determine the Next Steps
The Lahore High Court proceedings are now central to the family’s efforts to secure the sisters’ release.
The government’s submission confirms that the original detention period has been extended, but the legality of that decision remains open to judicial examination.
For the family, the immediate concern is securing their release after more than a month in custody. For the authorities, the legal question is whether the continued use of preventive detention powers is justified under the applicable law.
The case also raises a broader issue concerning the balance between maintaining public order and protecting individual liberty during periods of political unrest.
For now, Aleema Khan, Uzma Khan and Noreen Niazi remain detained under the extended orders, while their family’s legal challenge continues before the Lahore High Court.
