In a move that has drawn attention from both domestic and international observers, Dr. Uzma Khan and Ms. Noreen Niazi Khan, sisters of former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan, were freed from Kot Lakhpat maximum‑security prison in Lahore. The release came after nearly two months of detention, following their arrest a week before a planned PTI protest march on September 27.
Lawyer Mudassar Umer announced the sisters’ safe return home in a post on X, noting that they had been released and had arrived home safely. The sisters had been held under 30‑day detention orders, a measure the federal government justified by citing potential threats to law and order ahead of the demonstration that ultimately did not occur.
Despite the release, the Pakistan Tehreek‑e‑Insaf (PTI) party, led by Imran Khan, has expressed that the action does not rectify the broader injustices faced by the family. PTI leader Zulfiqar Bukhari told Al Jazeera that “the release of two sisters does not end the injustice or erase the suffering inflicted on Imran Khan’s family.” He called for “no selective relief, no intimidation, and no further persecution.”
While Uzma and Noreen have been freed, a third sister, Aleema Khan, remains in custody. PTI has urged the government to address the continued detention of Aleema and to ensure that no further arbitrary actions are taken against the family.
Imran Khan, 74, has been in prison since August 2023 following a series of convictions that his party claims are politically motivated. His health has been a concern, particularly the condition of his right eye, which has required specialist treatment. The PTI campaign has intensified its demands for Khan’s release, citing his medical needs and the political nature of his convictions.
The sisters’ release came a day after Khan was admitted to a hospital in Islamabad for medical treatment. The federal government’s decision to detain the sisters was linked to concerns over potential unrest related to the planned protest, which was ultimately cancelled. The government also suspended the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provincial government, led by PTI, for its role in organizing the demonstration.
Source: Al Jazeera
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Editorial note: This is an original news report prepared from the attributed source material with AI assistance. It is not a reproduction or translation of the original article.
