Jailed Pakistan ex-PM Imran Khan’s sister arrested days before protest march

Former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan's sister, Aleema Khan, was arrested from her Lahore residence on September 20, 2026, according to a PTI spokesperson. The arrest occurred a week before a planned protest march by the party advocating for the release of Imran Khan, who is currently incarcerated. Aleema Khan was sentenced to 30 days in jail, as stated in a Lahore district administration notice.

Intelligence reports suggested that her presence at any public gathering could endanger public safety, leading to her detention under the Maintenance of Public Order (MPO) law. The deputy commissioner of Lahore, Muhammad Ali Ijaz, issued the arrest order. Aleema Khan's whereabouts remain unknown, with her family only receiving a notification that her vehicle was found at a police station after her arrest.

Her son, Shahrez Khan, alleged that his mother was abducted after leaving their home that morning, expressing concern over the lack of communication from her. PTI, Imran Khan's political party, had planned a march to Islamabad on September 27 to demand his release; however, Pakistan's Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi announced that the government would take all necessary steps to prevent the protest.

Zulfi Bukhari, a close aide of Imran Khan, criticized the arrest of Aleema Khan as "absolutely despicable" and noted that the fear of the planned protest was impacting the situation.