Pakistani authorities have detained all three sisters of former Prime Minister Imran Khan—Aleema Khan, Dr. Uzma Khan, and Noreen Khan (Noreen Niazi)—amid a sweeping crackdown by law enforcement in Lahore. The high-profile arrests come just days before the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party’s planned mega-protest in Islamabad on September 27, which demands Khan’s release from prison.
Key Developments:
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The Arrest Timeline: Aleema Khan was taken into custody on Sunday, while Dr. Uzma Khan and Noreen Khan were detained on Monday.
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Legal Grounds: Lahore’s deputy commissioner issued 30-day preventive detention orders for the three sisters under Section 3 of Punjab’s Maintenance of Public Order (MPO) law, citing potential threats to public safety. All three have been shifted to Kot Lakhpat Jail in Lahore.
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Family and Children Targeted: According to PTI information secretary Sheikh Waqas Akram, family members and children were also initially taken into custody during police raids, though the children were subsequently released.
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Political Backlash: PTI leadership and family members have fiercely condemned the move. PTI spokesperson Zulfi Bukhari and other party figures labeled the detentions as an act of political victimization and a blatant abuse of state authority.
The Broader Context
The crackdown precedes PTI’s mobilized push for September 27, where supporters intend to rally for the release of the 73-year-old former cricket captain. Imran Khan has been incarcerated since 2023 and was sentenced alongside his wife on corruption-related charges. Government officials, including Information Minister Attaullah Tarar, have deemed the upcoming PTI protest illegal, vowing that authorities will prevent demonstrators from blocking public roads and disrupting daily life.
