On September 20, 2026, Lahore police seized Imran Khan’s sisters Aleema, Dr. Uzma, and Noreen Niazi, placing them under the Maintenance of Public Order law for up to 30 days.
Simultaneously, the Ministry of Health ordered hospitals in Islamabad to clear elective beds, halt surgeries, and keep staff on standby, citing a possible mass casualty scenario during the PTI march scheduled for September 27.
PTI chairman Gohar Ali Khan accused authorities of detaining 1,500 party workers, five parliamentarians and a minister this week, vowing to proceed with the march despite Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi’s threat to stop it.
The government’s move follows a Supreme Court mandate to ensure Imran Khan’s access to medical care, a demand that has stalled after his personal doctor was denied entry; the court’s order remains a point of contention.
A PTI MPA’s capture in Peshawar was livestreamed, amplifying calls for an end to what party leaders call an era of intimidation, while the march’s possible turnout could prompt emergency response protocols in the capital.
The next court hearing on the treatment of Imran Khan is scheduled for October 15, and Islamabad’s emergency services are on alert for the day of the protest.