Imran’s sisters challenge 30-day detention in LHC, seek immediate release
A petition was filed before the Lahore High Court (LHC) on Monday challenging the 30-day detention orders issued against Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan’s sisters Aleema Khan, Dr Uzma Khan and Noreen Niazi under Section 3 of the Maintenance of Public Order (MPO) Ordinance, seeking their immediate release.
The petition was filed by Aleema’s son, Shahraiz Khan, through advocate Rana Mudasar Umar, challenging the detention of his mother and her two sisters. It sought the annulment of the detention orders and the immediate release of all three women.
The arrests came as authorities stepped up a crackdown on PTI in response to the party’s planned September 27 march in Islamabad.
The petition contended that the detention order issued by the Lahore deputy commissioner on September 20 was illegal and unlawful, alleging that Aleema was picked up while travelling with her driver for personal work and that there was no public gathering or situation suggesting any threat to public order.
According to the petition, Aleema was detained along with her driver, Muhammad Ameer, and both are currently confined at Lahore Central Jail.
The petitioner claimed that she was a peaceful and law-abiding citizen and had never engaged in any activity prejudicial to public safety, public interest or maintenance of public order.
Read: Imran’s sisters Uzma, Noreen also detained under MPO ahead of Sept 27 PTI protest
The plea further challenged the grounds cited for their detention, stating that they were allegedly linked to FIR No 96/23, but the relevant case was registered at Sarwar Road Police Station rather than Race Course Police Station.
It added that Aleema had sought pre-arrest bail in the case, which remained pending for around one and a half years, and that police had ultimately declared her innocent, observing that she was not present at the place of occurrence.
The petitioner alleged that despite this, she was subsequently detained on the basis of the same case, claiming that the detention order was issued on the verbal recommendation of local police and at the instigation of rivals.
The petition argued that the detention order did not identify any specific conduct by Aleema that could legally justify preventive detention or establish an actual threat to public order.
It further contended that vague allegations, political association, peaceful protest, or registration of criminal cases, by themselves, cannot establish such a threat.
It also said that no credible, specific or independently verifiable material was disclosed to establish the necessity of detention, while the order allegedly uses general and formulaic language without an individualised assessment of the detenue’s conduct.
Read more: Naqvi warns PTI against Islamabad march, says governor’s rule among options for K-P amid security concerns
The plea maintained that the grounds of detention must contain sufficient particulars to enable the detenue to make an effective representation and stated that the constitutional safeguards relating to communication of the grounds of detention were not properly observed.
The petitioner also argued that preventive detention cannot be used as punishment for an alleged past offence or as a substitute for ordinary criminal proceedings, and that no reasons were recorded to explain why ordinary legal proceedings or less restrictive measures were inadequate.
The petition asked the LHC to declare the detention order dated September 20 null and void. It also sought suspension of the operation of the detention order during pendency of the writ petition.
In the petition, the secretary, Home Department, Lahore deputy commissioner, capital city police officer and superintendent of Lahore Central Jail were made Respondents.
Imran’s sisters detained
Earlier, police detained Uzma and Noreen, along with his nephews, for 30 days under the MPO Ordinance, a day after Aleema was detained under the same law.
Aleema was detained by authorities in Lahore under the same Section 3 of the MPO, and transferred to Kot Lakhpat Jail for 30 days.
According to an order available to The Express Tribune, dated September 20, the detention was based on reports submitted by the SP Civil Lines Division and the District Intelligence Branch, which alleged that the two women’s activities were “prejudicial to the public safety and maintenance of public order”.
In the order, police and intelligence officials state that Niazi and Uzma had been involved in the May 9 protests and road blockades and had “motivated the workers to damage public and Government property”.
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The order further states that the two were “again mobilising the workers through social media and public meetings to create law and order situation” and were raising or chanting “objectionable slogans amongst the general public against the Government/institution in order to provoke and incite them”.
“Accordingly multiple cases including 96/23 PS Race Course were registered,” the order said, adding that the two women were “potential dangers to public peace and tranquility”.
The police reports recommended their detention under Section 3 of the Punjab Maintenance of Public Order Ordinance, 1960, for 30 days, saying this was necessary “in order to keep the law & order situation in the city intact”.
The request was subsequently placed before the District Intelligence Committee at a meeting chaired by the Lahore deputy commissioner on September 20. The order said the matter was “discussed in detail” and that committee members “endorsed the evidence/material provided/shared by the Police Department”.
The committee then “unanimously recommended that a detention order may be issued” against Noreen and Uzma to maintain the law and order situation in Lahore, according to the order.
The deputy commissioner said that, after reviewing the material submitted by the Lahore police chief and the committee’s recommendation, he was “convinced” that the presence of the two women “at any public place will pose a grave threat to the public safety and will likely cause breach of public peace and public order”.
The order directed that Noreen and Uzma “be arrested and detained for a period of 30-days from the date of arrest”, with their custody placed under the Superintendent of Central Jail, Kot Lakhpat.
The order said they “shall be at liberty to make a representation to the Provincial Government against this order”.
PTI decries detention
PTI members alleged that the two sisters of party founder Imran, along with their children, were arrested by Punjab Police. PTI Central Information Secretary Sheikh Waqas Akram said the family members had been placed in an armoured vehicle and were being taken to an undisclosed location.
“Punjab Police have arrested both sisters of Imran Khan, along with their children and the sons of Aleema Khan. They have been placed in an armoured vehicle and are being taken to an unknown location,” Akram said in a post on X early Monday.
Punjab Police have arrested both sisters of Imran Khan, along with their children and the sons of Aleema Khan Sahiba. They have been placed in an armoured vehicle and are being taken to an unknown location. Shame on the Government of Punjab and Punjab Police. This action is…
— Sheikh Waqas Akram (@SheikhWaqqas) September 20, 2026
In a separate statement, PTI condemned what it called the “illegal and high-handed action” of Punjab Police, alleging that the arrests amounted to an abuse of authority, a violation of fundamental rights and “political victimisation.”
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf strongly condemns the illegal and high handed action of Punjab Police in arresting both sisters of former Prime Minister Imran Khan, their children, and the sons of Aleema Khan Sahiba.
According to information received, they have been placed in an…
— PTI (@PTIofficial) September 20, 2026
“Targeting women and children of a political family in this manner exposes the true face of the Punjab Government and Punjab Police,” the party said, adding that the conduct was “illegal, unconstitutional” and should be condemned.
The party demanded the immediate disclosure of the family members’ whereabouts, their safe return and their production before a court of law.
The allegations were followed by a series of posts from Imran’s son Kasim Khan. “This is a disgrace,” Kasim wrote on X at around 2:55am. “Now my Aunts Dr Uzma and Noreen, along with my cousins Shershah and Shahrez have now been abducted as well.”
This is a disgrace.
Now my Aunts Dr. Uzma and Noureen, along with my cousins Shershah and Shahrez have now been abducted as well.
They have broken into my aunties and cousins houses and forced them
into vehicles with no explanation.
No reasons for arrest have been stated.
No… https://t.co/8uIrTAcVhV
— Kasim Khan (@Kasim_Khan_1999) September 20, 2026
He alleged that people had entered the homes of his aunts and cousins and forced them into vehicles without providing an explanation. “They have broken into my aunties and cousins houses and forced them into vehicles with no explanation,” he wrote. Kasim added, “No reasons for arrest have been stated. No news has been released as to where they have been taken.”
He called the alleged detentions “criminal behaviour” and “inexcusable”, and said: “The Pakistani people are petrified of their own leaders.”
The situation appeared to take another turn when Kasim said two of Shahrez’s children, aged four and six, could also not be located.
And it get’s worse.
My cousin Shahrez’s 2 children of 4 and 6 years old are now missing.
There is no limit to their cruelty. Complete disregard for humanity. https://t.co/oUF0ummxOO
— Kasim Khan (@Kasim_Khan_1999) September 20, 2026
“And it gets worse,” he wrote in a subsequent post, adding, “My cousin Shahrez’s two children of 4 and 6 years are now missing. There is no limit to their cruelty. Complete disregard for humanity.”
About an hour later, Kasim said he had received news that the children were safe, but alleged that two more of his cousins had been arrested.
Hearing news that my cousin’s children are now safe 🙏.
Meanwhile two more of my cousins have been arrested. Azeem and Sakeenah.
No reasons given.
No location given. https://t.co/rkgzrw8Yul
— Kasim Khan (@Kasim_Khan_1999) September 20, 2026
“Hearing news that my cousin’s children are now safe,” he wrote. “Meanwhile, two more of my cousins have been arrested. Azeem and Sakeenah. No reasons given. No location given.”
CM Afridi reaches Lahore
Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) Chief Minister Sohail Afridi also said he had travelled to Lahore after receiving information that Noreen and Dr Uzma were at risk of arrest.
In a video message recorded near Lahore on the motorway in the early hours of Monday, CM Afridi said he had been in contact with the two women and had asked them to remain inside their homes until he arrived.
“I was informed that Noreen and Uzma Bibi were being arrested,” he said. “I left for Lahore to pick up Noreen Apa.” The chief minister stated that he had told the two women he would take them to K-P, but alleged that unidentified people subsequently entered their homes and allegedly abducted them.
“The kidnappers attacked their homes, vandalised their houses and have now taken them away,” he said, adding that his contact with the two women had since been cut off. “I am repeatedly trying to contact them, but I have not been able to get through,” he said.
“If you will not respect someone’s mother, sister or daughter, if you will pick up the entire family of a former prime minister, then where will Pakistan go?” CM Afridi questioned.
Read More: PTI to finalise capital march strategy
The chief minister also alleged that PTI workers and their families had faced similar treatment in recent days. He claimed that people in “plain clothes” had been tearing down PTI banners, burning party materials and entering its conventions.
He also alleged that a provincial minister had been targeted and an attempt made to abduct him, accusing authorities of violating the sanctity of homes.
Police also detained Imran’s niece Hajra Niazi and her husband on Sunday, according to sources. They were later released after being taken to separate police stations.Read More