Rana Sanaullah says Imran's jailed sister Noreen 'fine' after being provided medical treatment

Why This Matters

Key context: <p>Adviser to the prime minister on political affairs, Rana Sanaullah, on Thursday informed the Senate that Noreen Niazi, the sister of jailed PTI founder Imran Khan, was fine after being provided medical treatment in Lahore.</p> <p>Imran’s three sisters — Noreen, Aleema Khan, and Uzma Khan — have been <a href="https://www.dawn.com/news/2039934/lhc-disposes-of-petition-seeking-release-of-imrans-sisters-after-govt-extends-detention">in detention</a> since <a href="https://www.dawn.com/news/2031544">Sept 21</a> under the Punjab Maintenance of Public Order Ordinance, 1960 (MPO) on the Lahore deputy commissioner’s (DC) orders.</p> <p>On Wednesday, Noreen’s lawyer said that she was <a href="https://www.dawn.com/news/2040494">moved</a> from Lahore’s Kot Lakhpat jail to the Punjab Institute of Cardiology (PIC) due to high blood pressure. Her lawyer claimed that no family member had been informed about her deteriorating health condition.</p> <p>Speaking on the floor of the Senate on Thursday, Sanaullah responded to the query by PTI parliamentary leader Barrister Ali Zafar, who sought information regarding Noreen’s health and her being taken to the hospital.</p> <p>The PML-N senator said Noreen was “immediately provided with medical facilities”.</p> <p>“As per the information available, she is fine and all her medical tests are normal,” he said.</p> <p>On <a rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" class="link--external" href="https://x.com/PTIofficial/status/2115594772400251245">concerns</a> about Noreen’s family allegedly not being allowed to meet her, the prime minister’s adviser said details would also be sought on the matter. He assured the PTI that if this was true, it would be addressed depending on the circumstances at the hospital.</p> <p>During his address, PTI Senator Mashal Yousafzai continued to interrupt Sanaullah, questioning the need for Noreen’s detention.</p> <p>The PML-N senator replied: “She is in jail because she wanted to spread turmoil in the country. She wanted to attack Islamabad by launching a long march and inciting the people.”</p> <p>Addressing Zafar, Sanaullah said that as the PTI founder was in jail under judicial custody, any relief regarding his health and meeting should be sought from the courts.</p> <p>Imran’s sisters are currently serving the second term of a 30-day detention under the MPO, which was <a href="https://www.dawn.com/news/2039934/lhc-disposes-of-petition-seeking-release-of-imrans-sisters-after-govt-extends-detention"><u>extended</u></a> on Oct 7. The detention came amid reports of a <a href="https://www.dawn.com/news/2029486"><u>crackdown</u></a> on the PTI ahead of its countrywide <a href="https://www.dawn.com/news/2029948"><u>protest</u></a> and march to Islamabad, which the party had called to demand Imran’s release from jail and mobilise people for the supremacy of the Constitution.</p> <h2><a id="pti-condemns-noreens-hospital-transfer-sans-informing-family" href="#pti-condemns-noreens-hospital-transfer-sans-informing-family" class="heading-permalink" aria-hidden="true" tabindex="-1" title="Permalink"></a>PTI condemns Noreen’s hospital transfer ‘sans informing family’</h2> <p>Meanwhile, in a statement, the PTI condemned the transfer of 70-year-old Noreen to the PIC without informing her family, expressing grave concern over her health and the treatment of “political prisoners”.</p> <p>PTI Central Information Secretary Sheikh Waqas Akram criticised the authorities for not informing Noreen’s family after she felt unwell while in custody at the Kot Lakhpat jail.</p> <p>He described the handling of her medical emergency as “callous and inhumane”, arguing that denying family members timely information about the condition of an elderly heart patient raised serious questions about prisoners’ rights, legal safeguards and basic human dignity.</p> <p>“Noreen Niazi’s transfer to the PIC without prior notification to her family is alarming,” Akram said, demanding an immediate explanation from the Punjab government and the relevant authorities.</p> <p>He demanded that Noreen receive the best possible medical treatment under the supervision of senior cardiologists without any delay, that her necessary diagnostic tests be conducted, and that her family be allowed access in accordance with applicable law.</p> <p>“The authorities must provide her family with complete, credible and timely information about her condition,” the PTI leader further stressed.</p> <p>Warning the government against disregarding fundamental rights in the alleged pursuit of political objectives, he said the PTI would not compromise on the protection of human life, health or constitutional freedoms under any circumstances.</p> <figure class='media w-full w-full media-- media--embed media--uneven media--tweet' data-original-src='https://x.com/SheikhWaqqas/status/2115578296633335839'> <div class='media__item media__item--twitter '><span> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"> <a href="https://twitter.com/SheikhWaqqas/status/2115578296633335839"></a> </blockquote> </span></div> </figure> This development from dawn.com highlights ongoing changes in the sector.