Pakistan police detain Imran Khan’s sister in Lahore ahead of PTI march

Police in Lahore detained Aleema Khan, the sister of jailed former Pakistani prime minister Imran Khan, on Sunday and moved her to Kot Lakhpat Jail for a 30-day period, according to Pakistani media reports citing an administrative detention order. The arrest comes as Imran Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party prepares for a planned protest march later this month.

The detention adds another flashpoint to the standoff between authorities and the opposition party, which has faced repeated pressure in recent months. PTI leaders said Aleema Khan was taken from outside her home in Lahore, while several outlets reported that her vehicle was also taken into custody and transferred to Mazang Police Station.

Aleema Khan has been a visible figure in efforts to support her brother, whose imprisonment has remained a central issue in Pakistan’s politics since he was ousted from office in 2022 and later convicted in multiple cases. In August, the Pakistan Supreme Court ordered authorities to take Imran Khan to a private hospital for a medical examination and allow family access, underscoring the continuing legal and political scrutiny around his detention.

Detention order cites public order concerns

Pakistani outlets reported that the Lahore administration issued the detention under Section 3 of the Maintenance of Public Order ordinance, with officials citing concerns about a possible breach of peace. Aaj English TV and Pakistan Point said the order directed that Aleema Khan be held at Kot Lakhpat Jail for 30 days, while other reports said the move followed police recommendations.

The action comes ahead of PTI’s planned mobilization, which local outlets said is set for Sept. 27, 2026. The party has not publicly backed away from the protest plan, and some reports said additional PTI-linked workers were also being detained in Lahore.

Aleema Khan’s detention follows a period of heightened tension around PTI figures. In July, an anti-terrorism court declared Aleema Khan and another sister, Uzma Khan, proclaimed offenders in a separate case linked to an Oct. 4 protest after they repeatedly failed to appear before the court.

For now, Pakistani authorities have not publicly detailed whether further detentions are planned, and it remained unclear on Sunday how PTI would respond to the arrest beyond its criticism of the government’s actions.