Lahore High Court declines immediate suspension of PTI sisters' preventive detention

On Thursday, the Lahore High Court turned down a request to instantly suspend the preventive detention orders placed on Noreen Niazi and Dr Uzma Khan, both sisters of PTI founder Imran Khan, who were arrested under the Punjab Maintenance of Public Order Ordinance. Their daughter Sakeena Niazi filed the petition, and counsel Barrister Taimur Malik and Advocate Rana Mudassir argued the women were non-political and had already been acquitted in a related case, also pointing to recent LHC Multan bench decisions that lifted detentions of other PTI members.

Justice Abher Gul Khan indicated the court would first seek a report from the Lahore deputy commissioner, the capital city police officer, the Home Department secretary and the Kot Lakhpat jail superintendent before ruling on the suspension, and issued formal notices to these respondents. The hearing follows a series of arrests of Imran Khan’s relatives and party leaders ahead of a scheduled PTI protest march on September 27, while provincial authorities have imposed Section 144 bans and warned of strict enforcement.

Meanwhile, the Islamabad High Court is also hearing a separate petition concerning alleged harassment of PTI figures. The developments highlight escalating legal and security tensions surrounding the upcoming political demonstration.