Two more sisters of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan, Dr Uzma Khan and Noreen Niazi, have been arrested in Lahore, a day after their sister Aleema Khan was detained by law enforcement authorities.
According to 24NewsHD TV channel, the two women were ordered to be detained for 30 days under the Maintenance of Public Order law, ahead of the party’s September 27 protest call.
The detention orders were issued by the Lahore deputy commissioner on the recommendation of the police.
Uzma Khan and Noreen Niazi were taken to Kot Lakhpat Jail late at night, the TV channel reported.
Their arrests came after the two sisters held a media talk in Lahore, where they condemned the arrest of Aleema Khan. They were later taken into custody during the night.
The detention has come amid reports of a crackdown on the PTI ahead of its September 27 countrywide protest and march to Islamabad, which the party has called to demand Imran’s release from jail and mobilise people for the supremacy of the Constitution.
In an order dated Sept 20, the Lahore DC Office ordered that Noreen and Uzma be detained for 30 days under the Punjab Maintenance of Public Order Ordinance, 1960, stating that the two were “prejudicial to the public safety and maintenance of public order”.
The MPO ordinance allows the authorities to order detention and restrict judicial review of such orders.
The two will remain in custody under the superintendent, Central Jail, Kot Lakhpat, it said.
The order stated that the two were involved in the May 9 protest and “motivated the workers to damage public and government property”.
“Moreover, they are again mobilising the workers through social media and public meetings to create a law and order situation, raising/chanting objectionable slogans amongst the general public against the government/institution in order to provoke and incite them,” the order read.
“Accordingly, multiple cases including 96/23 PS Race Course were registered,” it said, stating that Uzma and Noreen were “potential dangers to public peace and tranquillity”.
“Such activists will give rise to a situation prejudicial to public safety and maintenance of public order, if left unchecked.”
The decision was taken in a meeting held on Sunday, under the chairmanship of the Lahore DC Muhammad Ali Ijaz, where the issue was discussed and members “endorsed” the “evidence” presented by the police.
The order stated that the Lahore DC was convinced that Uzma and Noreen’s presence “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 TV channel had earlier reported that Aleema Khan was arrested in Lahore after leaving her home to go to the gym.
Her two sons were also arrested in some other locations, but in the night both have been released, according to the TV channel.
According to the 24NewsHD TV channel's July report, an anti-terrorism court in Islamabad declared Aleema Khan and Uzma Khan proclaimed offenders in a case related to the October 4 protest and issued permanent arrest warrants for both sisters.
Reporter: Abid Chaudhry