Aleema Khan, sister of Pakistan's ex-PM, arrested ahead of nationwide protests

What changed

Aleema Khanum, sister of Pakistan's imprisoned former prime minister Imran Khan, was detained in Lahore on Sunday afternoon. The arrest order from the Deputy Commissioner of Lahore alleges she is mobilising supporters "through social media and public meetings" to create law and order issues and chant objectionable slogans against the government. Khanum faces 30 days of detention at Kot Lakhpat jail.

Her arrest occurs just days before the 27 September protests scheduled across the country, where demonstrators plan to march to Islamabad. PTI officials have labelled the detention "illegal," and Khanum’s son, Shahrez Khan, has publicly demanded the government disclose her whereabouts and ensure her safe return. A police official confirmed the detention, noting that her family had initially had no contact or news of her whereabouts.

Why it matters

This move signals a tightening grip by the state ahead of mass demonstrations. The authorities have already begun physical preparations for the September 27 march, with shipping containers lining the streets around Islamabad government buildings to safeguard the complex. The Interior Minister has explicitly stated that these protests harm the country and that the government will take all necessary measures to stop them.

By detaining a high-profile family member of Imran Khan, the government is attempting to disrupt the organisational backbone of the opposition movement. Khan has been detained since 2023, facing charges in over 100 cases ranging from leaking state secrets to selling state gifts, which he decries as politically motivated. His legal status remains precarious; he was jailed for 14 years in a land corruption case last year, the longest sentence he has received, and his health has been deteriorating while in prison. The arrest of Khanum suggests the state is targeting not just the leader, but the broader support network required to sustain his political relevance.

The specific evidence behind the "mobilisation" charges remains unclear, but the timing suggests the authorities are prioritising the suppression of physical assembly over the content of online discourse. With the capital braced for potential unrest, the detention serves as both a logistical barrier to the protest and a symbolic message to remaining PTI organisers.