Imran Khan sisters released from Lahore’s Kot Lakhpat Jail on Thursday, November 12, after the Punjab authorities withdrew their extended detention orders, according to their legal counsel. Dr Uzma Khan and Noreen Niazi, sisters of incarcerated Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan, returned home following approximately 53 days in custody under the Punjab Maintenance of Public Order (MPO) Ordinance, 1960.
PTI legal counsel Rana Mudassar Umer confirmed their release, stating that both women had returned home safely. Another PTI lawyer, Taimur Malik, also announced the development on social media, attributing their release to the withdrawal of what he described as unlawful detention orders. He further called for the release of other individuals detained under the same MPO orders.
The development marks the end of an extended period of detention for the two women, whose arrests had attracted considerable attention amid escalating political tensions surrounding the PTI and its incarcerated founder. However, their sister Aleema Khan remains in custody, making the latest development a partial rather than complete release of Imran Khan’s detained family members.
Imran Khan Sisters Released After 53 Days in Custody
Uzma Khan and Noreen Niazi were initially detained on September 21 under Section 3 of the Punjab Maintenance of Public Order Ordinance, 1960. Their detention was ordered alongside that of their sister Aleema Khan, who had been taken into custody a day earlier, on September 20.
The arrests took place as the PTI prepared for a planned protest march towards Islamabad, which was intended to press for the release of Imran Khan. Authorities initially issued 30-day preventive detention orders against the three women.
However, the detention did not end when the initial period expired. The Punjab government subsequently informed the Lahore High Court (LHC) that the detention orders had been extended for another 30 days following a recommendation by the Lahore deputy commissioner.
The extensions prompted further legal challenges from the family. Petitions were filed before the Lahore High Court seeking the release of the three women and questioning their continued detention. The matter remained under judicial consideration as the family challenged the government’s decision to extend the detention period.
The latest development came after the extended detention orders were withdrawn, paving the way for Uzma and Noreen’s release from Kot Lakhpat Jail. Their release was confirmed by their lawyers and family members on Thursday.
Noreen Niazi’s Health Raised Concerns During Detention
Noreen Niazi’s detention had also attracted attention because of concerns regarding her health and access to medical care. On October 28, she was transferred from Kot Lakhpat Jail to the Punjab Institute of Cardiology (PIC) after experiencing high blood pressure.
Her transfer prompted concerns from the PTI, which criticised the authorities for allegedly failing to inform her family about her hospitalisation. The party expressed concern over her medical condition and the treatment of individuals detained in connection with political activities.
The government, however, maintained that Noreen had received appropriate medical attention. On October 29, Prime Minister’s Adviser on Political Affairs Rana Sanaullah informed the Senate that she was fine and that her medical tests were normal.
Her health remained an important concern for her family throughout the detention period, particularly given her age. Noreen’s son, Wali Niazi, subsequently confirmed her release alongside his aunt, Uzma Khan.
In a statement shared on social media, he said the two women had been held for 53 days under Section 3 of the MPO Ordinance without charges or a trial. He also criticised the circumstances surrounding both their detention and eventual release, describing the decisions as arbitrary and calling for an explanation from the authorities.
His remarks reflected the family’s objections to the use of preventive detention in the case and raised broader questions about the circumstances under which individuals can be held under public order legislation.
Lahore High Court Proceedings Over PTI Sisters’ Detention
The release follows weeks of legal proceedings before the Lahore High Court concerning the detention of Imran Khan’s sisters. The initial 30-day detention period had expired in October, but the Punjab government subsequently confirmed that it had authorised another 30 days of detention.
During an earlier hearing, the provincial government’s representative informed the court that the extensions had been approved following recommendations from the Lahore deputy commissioner. The court proceedings also involved requests for explanations from relevant government and prison officials regarding the continued detention of the women.
The detention orders were issued under Section 3 of the Punjab Maintenance of Public Order Ordinance, which provides for preventive detention in specified circumstances relating to public order. Such detention differs from ordinary criminal prosecution, as it is intended to prevent anticipated threats rather than punish an individual following a criminal conviction.
The use of preventive detention has frequently attracted legal and political scrutiny in Pakistan, particularly when authorities invoke public order concerns in the context of political protests. The latest case has once again brought attention to the balance between maintaining public order and safeguarding individual liberty.
Although the withdrawal of the extended orders resulted in the release of Uzma and Noreen, their lawyers and family members have continued to question the legal basis and duration of their detention.
Aleema Khan Remains in Jail Following Sisters’ Release
Despite Thursday’s development, Aleema Khan, the third sister of the PTI founder, remains in custody at Kot Lakhpat Jail. She was arrested on September 20, one day before Uzma Khan and Noreen Niazi, and was also initially detained under the Punjab MPO Ordinance.
Her continued detention means that the legal and political concerns surrounding the arrests of Imran Khan’s family members have not been entirely resolved. While the withdrawal of the extended orders allowed two of the sisters to return home, Aleema’s situation remains separate.
The PTI has also called for the release of other individuals detained under the same MPO orders, with party lawyers arguing that the detention measures should not continue following the withdrawal of the relevant orders.
The development comes amid continuing political tensions between the government and the opposition party over Imran Khan’s imprisonment and the treatment of PTI members and supporters. The former prime minister has remained incarcerated since 2023 and continues to face legal proceedings, while the party maintains demands for his release.
For the immediate family, the release of Uzma Khan and Noreen Niazi brings an end to more than seven weeks of detention. However, the continued imprisonment of Aleema Khan and the questions raised over the use of preventive detention ensure that the matter remains politically and legally significant.
The withdrawal of the extended detention orders has brought relief to two members of the Khan family, but it has also renewed scrutiny of the government’s use of the MPO Ordinance against individuals associated with political opposition. Whether further releases follow will depend on the decisions taken by the relevant authorities and the ongoing legal proceedings.
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