Pakistan authorities have detained Aleema Khan, the sister of imprisoned former Prime Minister Imran Khan, from her residence in Lahore. The arrest occurred on Sunday, precisely one week prior to a scheduled demonstration by the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party on September 27 aimed at securing Khan’s freedom.
A senior police official in Lahore confirmed the detention but provided no additional details, citing authorization restrictions regarding media comments. Official documentation reviewed by Al Jazeera indicates that Lahore Deputy Commissioner issued an order for Aleema Khan’s 30-day custody under the Punjab Maintenance of Public Order (MPO) law. This legislation permits officials to impose preventive detention when an individual is considered a threat to public order or safety.
Rana Mudassar Umer, the lawyer representing Aleema Khan, stated that she was taken from her home in the morning along with her driver and transported to an undisclosed location. He emphasized on social media platform X that she holds bail across all pending cases in Lahore and that her current holding facility remains unknown.
The PTI strongly condemned the action, describing it as an unlawful measure designed to silence a relative of the leader. Sheikh Waqas Akram, a party spokesperson, labeled the arrest an act of cowardice and a deliberate effort to escalate tensions. He highlighted that Aleema Khan, who is in her 70s, was taken from her doorstep specifically because she refused to remain quiet regarding her brother’s detention, solitary confinement, and lack of adequate medical attention.
On Saturday, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi declared that the government would employ every available means to prevent the upcoming PTI march, according to Reuters.
Khan, 73, has been held since August 2023 following multiple convictions that his political allies characterize as politically motivated. While most of these verdicts have been suspended or overturned on appeal, concerns persist regarding his well-being, particularly concerning vision loss in his right eye which has necessitated extended specialized care.
His sons, Sulaiman and Kasim Khan, recently expressed heightened alarm after learning that their father is experiencing severe anxiety and agitation. They shared these concerns in discussions with Al Jazeera.
Legal conflicts over Khan’s healthcare continued last month when Pakistan’s Supreme Court ordered his transfer to Islamabad’s privately operated Shifa International Hospital. However, reports indicate that instead of complying with the court’s directive for continued care at that facility, authorities took him briefly to the state-run Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) for a check-up before returning him to custody. His legal team asserts that denying him access to his personal physician violated the court’s orders.
Aleema Khan has full bail in other cases. Why the sudden MPO order? Something smells fishy here.
Preventive detention against an elderly woman ahead of a rally? This feels like desperation, not public order maintenance.