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Pakistan Arrests Imran Khan's Sister Before Planned Protest
Confirmed
In Short: The arrest occurred exactly a week before a planned protest march by Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party, scheduled for September 27, to demand his release.
Pakistan's police arrested Aleema Khan, the sister of jailed former Prime Minister Imran Khan, from her home in Lahore on Sunday, according to Al Jazeera and The Indian Express.
Her lawyer, Rana Mudassar Umer, said Aleema Khan was taken to an unknown location by police, who he called illegal in their actions.
The arrest occurred exactly a week before a planned protest march by Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party, scheduled for September 27, to demand his release.
Imran Khan, 73, has been in jail since August 2023 over convictions his party calls politically motivated.
The Lahore deputy commissioner passed an order for Aleema Khan’s 30-day detention under the Maintenance of Public Order (MPO) law of Punjab.
Aleema Khan’s sons, Sulaiman and Kasim Khan, told Al Jazeera they are increasingly worried about their father’s health, noting he is agitated and suffering from severe anxiety.
Imran Khan’s party condemned his sister’s arrest, calling it an illegal attempt to silence her.
Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi said the government would do everything to stop the PTI protest march.
Aleema Khan’s sister, Noreen Niazi, addressed the press in Lahore, saying Aleema was picked up along with her driver after leaving her residence.
Zulfi Bukhari, Imran Khan’s close aide, described Aleema’s arrest as 'absolutely despicable,' adding that fear of the protest is taking its toll.
The PTI demands the government disclose Aleema Khan’s whereabouts and ensure her safe return.
What's confirmed
- Pakistan’s police have arrested Aleema Khan, the sister of jailed former Prime Minister Imran Khan, from her house in the eastern city of Lahore, the capital of Punjab province.
What's still developing
- Under the order, Khan was to remain there under medical care until the case was next heard, according to his lawyer.
- “An elderly lady, the sister of an imprisoned former prime minister, has been illegally arrested from her doorstep because she refused to stay silent about her brother’s illegal detention, solitary confinement, and denial of medical care,” he added about the woman in her 70s.