• Lahore DC orders 30-day detention of Imran’s sister; police confirm she is in Kot Lakhpat jail
• Lawyer claims arrest orders issued after she was taken into custody
• Opposition alliance slams arrest, demands her release

LAHORE: Aleema Khan, sister of PTI founder Imran Khan, was detained by authorities on Sunday after the office of Lahore’s deputy commissioner ordered her detention or arrest for 30 days under the Punjab Maintenance of Public Order Ordinance, 1960 (MPO).

The development came amid reports of a crackdown on the PTI ahead of its Sept 27 countrywide protest and march to Islamabad, which the party has called to demand Mr Khan’s release from jail and mobilise people for the “supremacy of the Constitution”.

The order issued by DC Muhammad Ali Ijaz, a copy of which is available with Dawn, directed the detention or arrest of Aleema Khan, and a man named Muhammad Ameer, under the MPO.

“Their custody shall be placed under the superintendent, Central Jail, Kot Lakhpat, Lahore. They shall be at liberty to make a representation to the provincial government against this order,” the document read.

Police sources confirmed to Dawn that she had been taken to Kot Lakhpat jail.

The order cited a letter from the Lahore capital city police officer, which referred to police reports stating that Ms Aleema and Mr Ameer “are prejudicial to the public safety and maintenance of public order”.

According to the order, the reports also said the two had been involved in roadblocks and protests on May 9, 2023, when PTI supporters and workers took to the streets following Mr Khan’s arrest.

The order added that the Civil Lines Division superintendent of police and district intelligence branch in-charge had recommended their detention under the MPO for 30 days “in order to keep the law and order situation in the city intact”.

‘Under pressure’

Following the arrest, Aleema’s sister Noreen Niazi addressed a press conference in Lahore, flanked by her sister’s counsel, Advocate Mudassir Umar.

She claimed that Aleema had been “picked up” along with her driver after leaving her residence and that they later learnt that her vehicle was parked at a police station.

Describing the development as part of “pressure” ahead of the Sept 27 protest, Noreen said the date would be a “historic day” in what she described as a movement for Mr Khan’s release.

She called on people to come out “for their country and Imran Khan”, alleging that her brother was being kept in custody unjustly and was not receiving proper medical treatment.

“If they think that by arresting Aleema Khan we will be frightened, they are mistaken,” she asserted.

Advocate Umar claimed that the MPO order appeared to have been issued after Aleema was taken into custody and alleged that her arrest was linked to her being Imran Khan’s sister.

Calls for release

Soon after reports emerged of the development, PTI interim chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan wrote on X that “arresting Aleema Khan Sahiba under the MPO in this situation is tantamount to fuelling violence and tension”.

“We strongly condemn it,” he added, saying the party had clarified that its protest would be peaceful. He called for an end to such actions and demanded Aleema’s immediate release.

Barrister Gohar said the party would soon present its strategy against such actions.

PTI Central Information Secretary Sheikh Waqas Akram demanded that Ms Aleema be presented in court immediately. “A sister is being punished for speaking up for her brother,” Mr Akram alleged on X.

The PTI later issued a statement condemning the “illegal” arrest of Aleema Khan from outside her home.

“This is not law. This is an illegal arrest. This is cowardice and a deliberate attempt to worsen the situation,” it said.

The party also criticised Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz’s repeated claim that women were a “red line”, saying the arrest of Aleema, “an elderly woman and the sister of an imprisoned former prime minister”, contradicted that position.

“We will not tolerate this illegal arrest. We demand her immediate release,” the party added.

The PTI founder’s son, Kasim Khan, who has recently been speaking to international media about his father’s incarceration, wrote on X: “First they imprisoned my father. Now they are coming after his family.”

Assailing the government, he said: “The world cannot keep looking away from what is happening in Pakistan.”

The Tehreek-i-Tahafuz Ayeen-i-Pakistan (TTAP) opposition alliance also condemned the arrest in a statement, saying the move was tantamount to crossing all limits of “state oppression and political revenge”.

“The TTAP strongly condemns this step by the government, especially the Punjab government. This action exposes the Punjab government’s current oppressive system,” it added.

It said Aleema’s arrest would not be tolerated and demanded her immediate release.

“The Punjab government must realise that oppression, arrests and revengeful acts cannot resolve political differences,” the TTAP said, reiterating its demand for Aleema’s release as well as that of other “political prisoners”.

Meanwhile, Noreen Niazi spoke to TTAP leader and Opposition Leader in the Senate Allama Raja Nasir Abbas by phone.

Mr Abbas condemned Aleema Khan’s arrest and said the resolve shown by the PTI founder’s sisters was encouraging workers and the public.

Ikram Junaidi in Islamabad also contributed to this report

Published in Dawn, September 21st, 2026