PTI Protests Ahead
Pakistani Authorities Detain Imran Khan’s Sister Ahead of Nationwide PTI Protest
Anonymous
Key Points
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The detention order also named Muhammad Ameer, directing that his custody, along with Aleema Khan’s, be placed under the superintendent of Central Jail, Kot Lakhpat. The order said detainees could submit a representation to the provincial government.
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Reports said Aleema Khan’s vehicle and driver were detained at Mazang Police Station after she was taken into custody while traveling from her Upper Mall residence toward the Gymkhana Club; the circumstances of her transfer to jail without a court order were not immediately clear.
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A medical team from Shifa International and PIMS reached Adiala Jail to examine Imran Khan, with possible eye and cardiac checkups and a hospital transfer to be determined by the medical report. Concern was reportedly focused on his right eye.
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Under the Punjab Maintenance of Public Order Ordinance, detainees can challenge a detention order in the High Court as well as make a representation to the provincial government.
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PTI described the action in unusually forceful terms, saying the “illegitimate government and its handlers” had “abducted Aleema Khanum from outside her home.”
Pakistani authorities detained Aleema Khan, sister of jailed former Prime Minister Imran Khan, in Lahore on September 20 ahead of a planned PTI march toward Islamabad on September 27. NDTV reported that a deputy commissioner ordered her held for 30 days under the Punjab Maintenance of Public Order law and transferred her to Kot Lakhpat Jail. The detention comes as authorities intensify efforts to block the nationwide protest demanding Imran Khan's release and greater constitutional adherence.
PTI condemned the action in forceful terms, with party leadership calling it an "abduction" by an "illegitimate government." News18 reported that Aleema Khan's vehicle and driver were detained at a police station after officers intercepted her while she traveled from her home toward the Gymkhana Club. The party vowed the march would remain peaceful and constitutional, while warning that further government action could escalate the conflict.
How Authorities Detained Imran Khan's Sister
Rediff reported that Lahore Deputy Commissioner Muhammad Ali Ijaz issued the detention order under Section 3 of the Punjab Maintenance of Public Order Ordinance. The order stated Aleema Khan's presence at any public place posed "a grave threat to public safety" and would "likely cause breach of public peace." Daily Sun noted that Muhammad Ameer was also named in the joint detention order, with both detainees placed under the superintendent of Central Jail, Kot Lakhpat.
Under the ordinance, detainees can challenge the order in the High Court or submit a representation to the provincial government. Her legal counsel claimed Khan had obtained bail in all existing Lahore cases, making the detention unlawful. However, authorities proceeded without a court order, a step that drew immediate criticism from PTI leaders who questioned the legal basis for transferring her to jail directly.
PTI Prepares for September 27 March Despite Crackdown
PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan told media the detention was "a first step towards worsening the situation," but reaffirmed that the September 27 march would remain "peaceful and political, with no intention of confrontation or violence." Head Topics reported that police detained at least four other PTI activists as authorities expanded security measures across Lahore and routes into Islamabad. Container blockades and checkpoints have been established to limit protester access to the capital.
Party spokesperson Sheikh Waqas Akram posted on social media: "A sister is being punished for speaking up for her brother." Imran Khan's sister Noreen Niazi told media: "I do not know why they are so worried that they are arresting women as well." The party described the action as state intimidation aimed at silencing Khan's family and stifling fundamental rights to peaceful assembly.
Imran Khan's Health Remains a Central Concern
Medical teams from Shifa International and PIMS visited Adiala Jail to examine the 73-year-old former prime minister. News18 reported that doctors conducted possible eye and cardiac checkups, with concerns focused on his right eye. The medical report will determine whether Khan requires hospital transfer. Supporters have raised alarm about his deteriorating health during his nearly three-year detention since August 2023.
Khan's family has repeatedly accused authorities of denying him proper medical care and restricting family visits. The detention of Aleema Khan, who has been vocal about his health and legal rights, compounds family concerns about his welfare. PTI has made his immediate release and improved detention conditions central demands of the September 27 march, framing the protest as both a political and humanitarian action.
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