LAHORE, Nov. 12 (Lord Media): Dr. Uzma Khan and Noreen Niazi, sisters of incarcerated Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan, were released from Kot Lakhpat jail on Thursday after authorities withdrew their detention orders, while their third sister, Aleema Khan, remains in custody.

PTI lawyer Rana Mudassar Umer confirmed the release in a post on X, saying both women had left the prison and reached home safely.

The sisters had spent 53 days in detention under Section 3 of the Punjab Maintenance of Public Order (MPO) Ordinance. Their initial 30-day detention was extended by the Punjab government for another month before the orders were withdrawn.

Lawyer Taimur Malik said the withdrawal of the detention orders had secured their release and called on authorities to take similar action in other cases involving people held under the same provisions.

Noreen’s son, Wali, also confirmed their release and questioned the legal basis for detaining the women without charges or trial. In a post on X, Wali said the sisters had been held for 53 days under Section 3 of the MPO without being charged or tried.

Wali also raised concerns over Noreen’s transfer to the Punjab Institute of Cardiology (PIC) on Oct. 28 after she experienced high blood pressure. He said the family had not been informed when she was taken to the hospital two weeks earlier.

The sisters’ detention was challenged in the Lahore High Court after the initial 30-day period expired. During the proceedings, the Punjab government informed the court that their detention had been extended for another 30 days. The court subsequently disposed of the petition seeking their release.

The PTI had criticized authorities for transferring Noreen to the hospital without informing her family and raised concerns about her health and the treatment of political detainees.

The government maintained that Noreen had received medical attention and was in stable condition. On Oct. 29, Prime Minister’s Adviser on Political Affairs Rana Sanaullah told the Senate that her medical test results were normal.

Aleema Khan, who was detained before her sisters, remains in jail. LORD