Summary The Rawalpindi ATC deferred Aleema Khan’s verdict to October 1, while the LHC issued notices over Noreen Niazi and Uzma Khan’s 30-day detention under the MPO.
RAWALPINDI (Dunya News) – The Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) in Rawalpindi has deferred its verdict in a case against Aleema Khan over the November 26 protest until October 1, while the Lahore High Court (LHC) has issued notices to the Punjab government and other respondents on petitions challenging the detention of Imran Khan’s sisters Noreen Niazi and Dr Uzma Khan.
The Rawalpindi ATC postponed the verdict as Judge Amjad Ali Shah is on leave. The court had reserved its decision on September 22 in the case against Aleema Khan and nine other accused after completion of the final arguments. The verdict was scheduled to be announced on Friday but will now be pronounced on October 1.
The case relates to the November 26 protest and was registered at Sadiqabad Police Station in Rawalpindi. Aleema Khan’s lawyer had not appeared before the court to present final arguments, according to the report.
Meanwhile, the Lahore High Court on Thursday heard petitions challenging the 30-day detention of Noreen Niazi and Dr Uzma Khan under the Maintenance of Public Order (MPO). Justice Abher Gul Khan heard the petitions, with lawyers for the two women requesting immediate suspension of their detention orders. The court declined to suspend the notifications at this stage and issued notices to the respondents, seeking their replies.
The Lahore deputy commissioner had ordered the detention of Noreen and Uzma for 30 days under Section 3 of the MPO on September 21 following a police recommendation. The two sisters were subsequently shifted to Kot Lakhpat Jail, where Aleema Khan had been detained a day earlier.
Lawyers Mudassar Umar and Barrister Taimur appeared on behalf of Noreen and Uzma, while lawyer Farrukh Lodhi represented the Punjab government. The court directed the relevant authorities to submit their responses to the petitions.
The detentions came ahead of PTI’s planned nationwide protest and march towards Islamabad on September 27. The party has called for the release of Imran Khan and what it describes as supremacy of the Constitution.
A separate petition concerning Aleema Khan’s detention was also heard by the Lahore High Court. Her son, Shahraiz Khan, challenged the detention orders issued against his mother and her driver under the MPO. During the September 22 hearing, the court sought arguments on the maintainability of the petition and adjourned the matter until September 25 for further arguments.
