Punjab police raided the home of Aleema Khan on Monday, seizing her along with her sisters Dr Uzma Khan and Noreen Khan, as well as their nephews and children. The children were released shortly after the raid, but the three women were transferred to Kot Lakhpat Jail in Lahore. PTI spokesman Zulfi Bukhari described the operation as an abduction, while party information secretary Sheikh Waqas Akram confirmed the custody transfer to AFP.
The legal basis for the arrests is a 30-day detention order passed by the Deputy Commissioner of Lahore on Sunday under the Maintenance of Public Order law. AFP reviewed copies of the two separate orders, which target the sisters specifically. Punjab police did not respond to requests for comment regarding the specific charges or the necessity of the preventive detention.
This move lands as the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) prepares for a major protest on 27 September. Information Minister Attaullah Tarar struck down the event on Sunday, calling it illegal. “We will not allow them to block roads and disrupt people’s lives,” Tarar stated, signaling a heavy police presence during the planned demonstrations.
The crackdown intensifies the pressure on Imran Khan, who has been imprisoned since 2023. Last year, a court sentenced the 73-year-old former cricket captain and prime minister to 17 years in jail on corruption charges, a verdict he and his wife vehemently deny. Khan was removed from power in 2022 via a no-confidence vote, a move widely attributed to friction with Pakistan’s military establishment.
The next critical moment is 27 September, when PTI plans to mobilize supporters despite the government’s ban. Security forces are expected to deploy heavily to prevent any disruption, setting the stage for potential confrontations in Lahore and other key cities.