Rana Sanaullah comments on Noreen Niazi’s health, promises to look into family visits

Adviser to the Prime Minister on Political Affairs Rana Sanaullah has said the government will look into reports that relatives of Noreen Niazi, the sister of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan have been denied access to her while she remains in custody.

Adviser to the Prime Minister on Political Affairs Rana Sanaullah has said the government will look into reports that relatives of Noreen Niazi, the sister of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan have been denied access to her while she remains in custody.

Speaking during a Senate session on Thursday Sanaullah said he would seek clarification from the relevant authorities and try to ensure that her family members were allowed to visit her.

The statement followed Noreen’s admission to Lahore’s Punjab Institute of Cardiology (PIC) a day earlier after her health reportedly deteriorated in custody. According to her lawyer, the family had not been informed about her condition or given access to her during treatment.

Responding to concerns about her health, Sanaullah said Noreen had been taken to hospital promptly after complaining of feeling unwell. He added that her condition was stable and that all her medical tests had returned normal results.

Noreen, 70 was detained on September 21 under Section 3 of the Punjab Maintenance of Public Order Ordinance, 1960, ahead of a planned PTI long march towards Islamabad. Authorities initially ordered her detention for 30 days which was subsequently extended on October 7 for another month. The current detention order is due to expire on November 20.

Sanaullah defended the detention, alleging that Noreen had sought to create unrest and encouraged people to participate in activities aimed at disrupting the situation in Islamabad.

The Senate discussion also covered the treatment and living conditions of Imran Khan, who remains in judicial custody. Sanaullah said reports detailing the facilities, food and other services available to the former prime minister had been submitted to the Supreme Court.

He maintained that the information provided to the court was consistent with the report prepared by the jail superintendent.

Addressing Senator Ali Zafar, Sanaullah said the matter of Imran’s incarceration was before the judiciary and that the PTI should seek relief through the courts. He argued that the issue was sub judice because legal appeals had already been filed.

The proceedings became tense when Senator Mashal Azam Yousafzai interrupted Sanaullah’s remarks, prompting the Senate chair to call for order.

Imran’s medical care has also remained a point of contention between the government and the PTI. Previous reports cited concerns about his blood pressure and eyesight although medical assessments indicated improvement in his vision following treatment.

The Supreme Court had previously issued directions concerning his medical treatment family meetings and access to his personal physician. The government later transferred him to the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS), citing security concerns where specialists examined him before he returned to Adiala Jail.

The latest developments have renewed attention on the medical treatment of detained PTI figures and their families’ access to them. Sanaullah’s statement indicates that the government will seek clarification on the reported restrictions affecting Noreen’s relatives.