Three sisters of incarcerated former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan—Aleema Khan, Uzma Khan, and Noreen Niazi—have been detained and held for 30 days under warrants alleging they pose a threat to public order. Their lawyer, Rana Mudassir Umar, reported that the arrests occurred over two days, with Aleema apprehended in Lahore on Sunday and Uzma and Noreen taken into custody early Monday following a press conference at their family home. The siblings were arrested under Pakistan’s Maintenance of Public Order law.
The arrests represent an intensification of government measures against supporters of Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party in advance of a planned demonstration scheduled for Sunday. The nationwide “long march” aims to secure Khan’s release and protest alleged democratic erosion under the current ruling coalition. Khan’s family and party contend he is being held in solitary confinement, denied family contact and legal counsel for an extended period, and prevented from accessing medical treatment for an eye condition. None of the three sisters hold formal positions within the PTI, though they have been outspoken advocates for their brother since his 2023 arrest on corruption charges.
Government authorities have implemented heightened security measures throughout Islamabad, erecting barriers and shipping containers to restrict access to the capital. Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi indicated the administration would pursue a “permanent solution” to prevent the demonstration from disrupting the country. Senior PTI officials have characterized the crackdown as extraordinary, alleging that police have conducted raids on homes, arrested party workers and their families, and engaged in escalating harassment tactics in an effort to suppress the march.
Despite prolonged imprisonment, Khan remains widely regarded as Pakistan’s most popular politician. Concerns among government officials about potential mass participation in Sunday’s demonstration reflect broader popular discontent stemming from economic hardship and fuel shortages. PTI leadership has suggested that authorities fear hundreds of thousands may participate, creating circumstances similar to recent protest movements in neighboring nations that have prompted significant political change.
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