ISLAMABAD: Aleema Khan, sister of jailed former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan, has been arrested in Lahore and sent to jail for 30 days, days ahead of a planned Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) protest march on September 27.
Aleema Khan was arrested from her residence on September 20, according to a PTI spokesperson. A notification issued by the Lahore district administration said she was detained under the Maintenance of Public Order (MPO) law, citing intelligence reports that her presence at public places could pose a threat to public safety.
The detention comes just a week before the PTI’s planned march towards Islamabad. The party has called for the protest to demand Imran Khan’s release.
Pakistan’s Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi has warned that the government will take all necessary measures to prevent the planned protest.
Aleema Khan has been publicly involved in efforts seeking her brother’s release. Imran Khan has remained in prison since 2023 following a series of legal cases. PTI has described the cases against its founder as politically motivated, while legal proceedings concerning his convictions continue.
The reasons cited by the Lahore administration for Aleema Khan’s detention are related to public safety and maintenance of public order. PTI, however, has criticised the move and alleged that authorities are targeting Imran Khan’s family ahead of the planned demonstration. These allegations have been disputed by authorities, who have cited the public-order provisions as the basis for the detention.
Aleema Khan’s lawyer, Rana Mudassar Umer, has challenged the detention before the Lahore High Court, according to reports.
The situation escalated further on September 21, when Imran Khan’s sisters Dr Uzma Khan and Noreen Niazi were also detained under Section 3 of the MPO and reportedly shifted to Kot Lakhpat Jail for 30 days.
With the PTI protest scheduled for September 27, the detention of Imran Khan’s sisters has added another layer to the political confrontation surrounding the former prime minister’s imprisonment and the party’s planned mobilisation.
