PTI claims more of Imran's family 'arrested' following Aleema's detention

PTI on Monday claimed that more of the former prime minister and party founder Imran Khan’s family members were “arrested”, including his two sisters — Dr Uzma Khan and Noreen Niazi.

The development follows the detention of Imran’s sister, Aleema Khan, after Lahore’s deputy commissioner (DC) ordered her detention or arrest for 30 days on Sunday.

Aleema’s arrest came amid reports of a crackdown on the PTI ahead of its September 27 countrywide protest and march to Islamabad, which the party has called to demand Imran’s release from jail and mobilise people for the supremacy of the Constitution.

In a post on X in the early hours of Monday, the party’s Central Information Secretary Sheikh Waqas Akram accused Punjab police of “arresting both sisters of Imran, along with their children and the sons of Aleema Khan”.

Akram claimed that the individuals had “been placed in an armoured vehicle and are being taken to an unknown location”.

PTI lawyer Awais Younas Chaudhry confirmed to Dawn that all three of Imran’s sisters had been arrested.

“Earlier Noreen Niazi and Uzma Khan were confined to their house, but on Monday morning they were taken to an unknown place,” he claimed.

Chaudhry said that Aleema was detained for 30 days under the Punjab Maintenance of Public Order Ordinance, 1960 (MPO).

“However, we have not received any orders regarding Noreen Niazi and Uzma Khan, due to which I can not confirm whether they will be released soon or they are also detained for 30 days,” he told Dawn.

PTI, in a post on X, condemned the alleged arrest, calling it a “blatant abuse of authority, a violation of fundamental rights, and an act of political victimisation”.

“Such conduct is illegal, unconstitutional, and is condemned in the strongest possible terms,” the party said.

Meanwhile, Imran’s son Kasim Khan, in a post on X, alleged that Uzma and Noreen had been “abducted”.

“This is a disgrace,” Kasim wrote, claiming that authorities had “broken into my aunties and cousins houses and forced them into vehicles with no explanation”.

“No reasons for arrest have been stated. No news has been released as to where they have been taken,” he wrote.

More to follow.