Police in Pakistan have arrested Aleema Khan, the sister of jailed former prime minister Imran Khan, at her home in Lahore ahead of a planned march by his supporters, according to a spokesperson from his political party.
The arrest
Aleema Khan was detained at her house in Lahore by police officers. The arrest was confirmed by a spokesperson for her brother’s political party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), which has been locked in a prolonged political struggle with the country’s military-backed establishment since Imran Khan was removed from office in 2022.
The detention comes ahead of a march that PTI supporters had planned to mount in Lahore. Marches and rallies by Khan’s supporters have frequently been met with a heavy police response, and the arrest of a senior family member is likely to intensify tensions between the party and the authorities.
Imran Khan’s imprisonment
Imran Khan, who was Pakistan’s prime minister from 2018 to 2022, has been in jail since August 2023. He has been convicted in multiple cases, including charges related to the unlawful disclosure of state secrets and alleged illicit marriage, verdicts he and his supporters have consistently denounced as politically motivated. Pakistan’s courts have heard appeals and the legal battles around his convictions have continued to run.
Khan’s detention has become a defining issue in Pakistani politics. PTI has organised a series of protests and marches demanding his release, each of which has prompted a significant security response. The party retains a large following, particularly among younger voters and in parts of Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
Why it matters
The arrest of Imran Khan’s sister is the latest in a pattern of confrontations between Pakistan’s law enforcement agencies and PTI. Each escalation raises the stakes for political stability in a country that has seen repeated swings between elected governments and military-backed administrations.
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For the UK, Pakistan’s internal politics carry implications through the large British-Pakistani community and through bilateral ties including migration, trade and security cooperation. Political volatility in Pakistan also affects regional dynamics in South Asia.
What happens next
The focus now falls on whether the planned march in Lahore goes ahead and how police respond. If the march proceeds, it will be watched closely for signs of further unrest. PTI is likely to issue statements condemning the arrest and calling for demonstrations.
Aleema Khan’s detention may also be challenged through the courts. As with many politically charged arrests in Pakistan, the legal process and the street response will run in parallel, and the situation could shift quickly.
Source: Sky News
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