SNN News Finland
LAHORE — Noreen Niazi, a sister of Pakistan’s jailed former prime minister Imran Khan, has been moved from Lahore’s Kot Lakhpat jail to hospital after suffering chest pain, in what officials described as a possible cardiac episode.
Moved to a cardiac hospital
Noreen Niazi was shifted from jail custody to the Punjab Institute of Cardiology in Lahore after she reported chest discomfort. Initial medical tests were being conducted, and no confirmed diagnosis had been released.
She remains in detention while receiving treatment. Jail authorities said the transfer was made so that she could be assessed by specialists.
Who is Noreen Niazi?
Noreen Niazi is one of Imran Khan’s sisters. She has been held at Kot Lakhpat jail for more than a month under the Punjab Maintenance of Public Order Ordinance, a colonial-era public-order law that allows detention without a normal criminal trial.
She was taken into custody in September 2026 as part of a wider crackdown on efforts to mobilise support for Imran Khan, who has been imprisoned since August 2023. Her detention, along with that of two other sisters, has recently been extended by a further 30 days.
Detention under public-order powers
The use of the public-order ordinance has been a recurring point of contention. Under the law, detainees can be held on administrative grounds rather than through ordinary criminal proceedings, which limits the avenues available to challenge their detention in court.
Relatives have said the sisters have had restricted access to family. The recent extension of their detention drew renewed criticism from supporters of Imran Khan’s party, who describe the measures as politically motivated.
The health episode is the latest development in a long-running standoff between the authorities in Punjab and the movement around the jailed former prime minister. SNN News Finland has reported on related developments, including claims about Pakistan’s foreign policy that Islamabad has denied, the provincial crackdown on smog violations, and an assault case in Lahore.
A wider crackdown
The detentions form part of a broader pattern. Aleema Khan was taken into custody on 20 September 2026, and Noreen Niazi and another sister, Dr Uzma Khan, were detained the following day, amid a crackdown on efforts to mobilise support for the jailed former prime minister.
Imran Khan has been imprisoned since August 2023. His party has repeatedly said the measures against his relatives are aimed at suppressing political organisation, while the authorities have defended the detentions as lawful and necessary for public order. Courts have at times intervened on medical grounds, ordering that treatment be provided to detainees.
What happens next
Further details on her condition and the circumstances of the episode are awaited. Medical staff have not confirmed whether she suffered an actual heart attack, and jail officials have not said whether her treatment will alter her detention arrangements.
SNN News Finland will continue to monitor the situation and report any confirmed developments.
Key facts
- Who: Noreen Niazi, a sister of jailed former prime minister Imran Khan.
- What: moved from Kot Lakhpat jail in Lahore to the Punjab Institute of Cardiology after chest pain.
- Status: she remains in detention while receiving treatment; initial tests under way.
- Legal basis: held under the Punjab Maintenance of Public Order Ordinance, extended by a further 30 days.
- Confirmed? No confirmed diagnosis of a heart attack has been released.
Frequently asked questions
Did Noreen Niazi have a heart attack?
That has not been confirmed. She was moved to a cardiac hospital after chest pain and possible heart-attack fears, and initial tests were being carried out.
Where is she being treated?
At the Punjab Institute of Cardiology in Lahore, after being transferred from Kot Lakhpat jail.
Why was she in jail?
She was detained under the Punjab Maintenance of Public Order Ordinance as part of a crackdown around support for Imran Khan.
How long has she been held?
More than a month. Her detention was recently extended by 30 days.
Is she still detained?
Yes. She remains in custody while receiving medical treatment.
Verified by Scandinavian News Agency Finland.
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