The sister of jailed former Pakistani prime minister Imran Khan has been arrested in Lahore, days before his Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party is due to hold a nationwide protest demanding his release.
Aleema Khanum was detained on Sunday, according to PTI officials, who described the arrest as illegal. Her son, Shahrez Khan, also demanded that authorities disclose her whereabouts and ensure her safe return.
Lahore’s deputy commissioner ordered Khanum’s detention for 30 days under the Maintenance of Public Order law. The order alleged that she had been mobilising Imran Khan supporters through social media and public meetings and could contribute to public order problems.
Police confirmed her arrest, while the detention order said she would be taken to Kot Lakhpat jail in Lahore.
Khanum has been an outspoken critic of her brother’s imprisonment and has regularly addressed his supporters and the media.
Her arrest comes ahead of a PTI protest march planned for Sept 27, when supporters are expected to travel towards the capital, Islamabad, to demand Imran Khan’s release. Authorities have already begun preparing security measures, including placing shipping containers around parts of Islamabad.
Pakistan’s Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi has said the government would take measures to prevent the planned protest, while PTI leaders have maintained that the march will be peaceful.
PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan condemned Khanum’s detention, saying the party had clarified that its protest would be peaceful and constitutional. He argued that detaining her could further increase tensions.
Khanum’s sister, Noreen Niazi, also described the arrest as part of pressure being placed on the party ahead of the Sept 27 mobilisation. These characterisations are claims by Khan’s family and PTI, rather than an independent finding.
Imran Khan has been in prison since 2023 and faces more than 100 cases, involving allegations ranging from state secrets to the handling of state gifts. He has denied the allegations and described the cases as politically motivated.
Last year, Khan was sentenced to 14 years in prison in a land corruption case, his longest sentence to date.
The latest arrest adds another point of tension between PTI and Pakistan’s authorities as the party prepares for its planned protest in Islamabad next week.
