Authorities in Pakistan have detained three sisters of former Prime Minister Imran Khan in Lahore, according to family members and officials from his political party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf. The detentions come amidst an escalating government crackdown ahead of a major protest march planned for September 27 in Islamabad. The nationwide demonstration is organized to demand the immediate release of the jailed opposition leader, who has been behind bars since August of last year. Local police carried out the operations in Lahore as part of heightened security measures intended to thwart political gatherings.
Official sources confirmed that authorities ordered Aleema Khan, one of the three sisters, to be held in custody for 30 days under preventative public order regulations. Family representatives stated that all three sisters were targeted due to their prominent involvement in raising awareness for Khan’s legal battles and maintaining momentum for his party. The administrative order effectively prevents Aleema Khan and her sisters from organizing or participating in mobilization efforts leading up to the Friday march. Legal counsel representing the family expressed outrage over the detentions, calling them an unconstitutional attempt to quiet opposition voices.
The planned September 27 march on the capital city of Islamabad represents a crucial test of political resilience for PTI, which has repeatedly attempted to stage mass rallies in recent months. Despite facing severe restrictions, roadblocks, and widespread arrests of party workers, senior PTI figures insisted that the demonstration would go forward as planned. Party leaders condemned the arrest of Khan’s sisters, describing the actions as desperation on the part of the current administration to stifle peaceful dissent. The sisters have emerged as prominent public figures since Khan’s imprisonment, frequently speaking to the media outside courthouses and advocating for his human rights.
Imran Khan, who was removed from office through a parliamentary no-confidence vote in April 2022, has faced scores of legal challenges, including allegations of corruption, official misconduct, and treason. Khan and his supporters contend that the dozens of legal cases filed against him are politically motivated fabrications meant to keep him sidelined from the country’s electoral process. Government prosecutors maintain that the legal proceedings are conducted in accordance with state laws and free from political interference. Despite his prolonged detention in Rawalpindi’s Adiala Jail, Khan retains widespread public support, which was demonstrated during the general elections earlier this year when PTI-backed independent candidates won the most parliamentary seats.
In response to the planned march, government authorities have heightened security protocols across the Punjab province and around the federal capital, placing law enforcement agencies on high alert. State officials defended the preventative measures, maintaining that restrictions on public gatherings are essential to ensure civil order and protect public infrastructure from potential unrest. Human rights organizations and political commentators have raised concerns over the frequent reliance on preventative detention laws against political opponents. As the deadline for the September 27 march approaches, the heightened political standoff threatens to further deepen the political instability gripping the South Asian nation.
