The Lahore High Court (LHC) on Thursday, 24 September 2026, rejected a petition seeking the immediate suspension of detention orders against former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan's sisters, Uzma Khan and Noreen Niazi. The court said it would first seek a report from the relevant authorities before ruling on the suspension request.

What the Court Said

During the hearing, lawyers representing Uzma Khan and Noreen Niazi argued that both women are 'non-political' and have been detained without adequate justification. They noted that Uzma Khan had already been acquitted in a previously registered case. The court, however, declined to grant an immediate suspension and instead issued notices to the named respondents — the Lahore Deputy Commissioner (DC), Capital City Police Officer (CCPO), the Home Department Secretary, and the Kot Lakhpat jail superintendent — seeking their response to the petition, according to reports.

Background: Arrests and Detention Orders

The petition came after police arrested all three of Imran Khan's sisters — Aleema Khan, Noreen Niazi, and Uzma Khan — pursuant to a 30-day detention order issued by the Lahore Deputy Commissioner under Section 3 of the Maintenance of Public Order (MPO) Ordinance. The detentions came days ahead of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI)'s planned protest on 27 September, called to demand the release of the party's founder. Imran Khan has been imprisoned since August 2023, following convictions that PTI has consistently described as politically motivated.

Punjab's Crackdown Ahead of PTI Protest

In a sweeping pre-emptive move, the Punjab government imposed a 13-day ban on public gatherings across the province. Roads and businesses in and around Attock and Rawalpindi have been shut, and Rangers paramilitary forces deployed across four districts. The official notification prohibits gatherings, processions, and assemblies of five or more people at public places, roads, and open spaces in Punjab. It also bans the display of weapons and any incitement to join unlawful gatherings. The order exempts weddings, funeral prayers, burials, and gatherings at mosques and other places of worship. Authorities cited intelligence inputs about an imminent security threat, with militant groups allegedly planning attacks on public gatherings.

Family's Response and International Appeal

On Monday, Imran Khan's son, Kasim Khan, condemned the detentions in a post on X, calling the situation 'a disgrace.' He said his aunts Dr. Uzma and Noreen, along with cousins Shershah and Shahrez, were 'abducted' after their homes were broken into, with no stated reasons for the arrests and no information released about where they were taken. 'This is criminal behaviour. Inexcusable. The Pakistani people are petrified of their own leaders. No upstanding nation should tolerate this criminal establishment. Intervention is now imperative. The world MUST take action,' Kasim Khan wrote. This marks a notable escalation in the family's appeals to the international community.

Context: Imran Khan's Legal Battles Since 2022

Since being ousted through a no-confidence vote in 2022, Imran Khan has faced a succession of legal cases, including allegations involving state gifts and an unlawful marriage case — charges PTI has termed politically driven. The targeting of family members ahead of a major planned protest marks a new phase in the standoff between PTI and the Pakistani state. With the 27 September protest now under a legal cloud and provincial administration mobilised, the pressure on PTI's organising capacity is considerable.