Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has accused authorities of arresting several party affiliates amid escalating efforts to curb the upcoming protest march scheduled for September 27. Among those detained was Aleema Khan, sister of PTI founder Imran Khan, who was taken into custody in Lahore. The Lahore district administration reportedly ordered her detention for 30 days under the Maintenance of Public Order law, citing concerns that her presence in public could threaten safety.
In a significant development, Aleema Khan was transferred to an undisclosed location following her arrest, PTI leader Brigadier (retd) Mushtaq. The party’s Central Punjab spokesperson strongly condemned the detention, highlighting a widespread crackdown that reportedly includes numerous other party workers. The spokesperson emphasized that arrests are ongoing on a large scale.
PTI also accused authorities of abducting Aleema Khan from outside her residence. Her lawyer, Rana Mudassar Umar, criticized the detention as unlawful, noting that she has bail in all pending cases in Lahore and that her current whereabouts remain unknown.
Meanwhile, PTI leader Sheikh Waqas reported the arrest of Noreen Niazi’s daughter and son-in-law. They were stopped at a police checkpoint near the American School in Lahore and subsequently taken to Race Course Police Station. In a separate claim, Waqas stated that MNA Ahsan Jamal Khan from Mianwali was arrested near the National Assembly. These claims have yet to be independently confirmed.
PTI Barrister Syed Ali Zafar condemned the arrests of party parliamentarians, workers, and leaders nationwide. He specifically mentioned the detention of party worker Shayan Bashir from Lahore and MNA Mian Ghaus from Islamabad, labeling the arrests as “highly condemnable.” Zafar suggested that these actions are motivated by fear of PTI’s planned protest and stressed that peaceful demonstrations in support of political rights are a constitutional entitlement. He warned that suppressing public voices through state power harms the country.
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi also denounced Aleema Khan’s detention, describing it as “the worst form of political revenge.” Afridi criticized the treatment of women in Punjab and the alleged violation of home sanctity, calling these acts shameful and against social norms. He questioned why Imran Khan’s family members are being targeted under the Maintenance of Public Order law.
These incidents follow the recent release of PTI Secretary General Salman Akram Raja, who was held for approximately four hours in Islamabad’s Nilore area. Raja was returning from Kotli Sattian after attending the funeral prayers of PTI leader Ejaz Satti. Upon release, Raja claimed that he and other party workers were detained to prevent their attendance at the funeral.
The ongoing tensions between PTI and the government have escalated amid preparations for the September 27 march. Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi has stated that the government will take all necessary steps to prevent the protest from entering Islamabad, signaling a firm stance against the planned demonstration.
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