Imran Khan's sisters challenge detention as PTI vows Islamabad march

Imran Khan's three sisters have challenged their 30-day detention in the Lahore High Court ahead of the Sept. 27 Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) march on Islamabad.

Aleema Khan, Dr Uzma Khan and Noreen Niazi were detained under Section 3 of the Maintenance of Public Order (MPO) Ordinance, with officials citing law-and-order concerns.

Why were Imran Khan's sisters detained?

Lahore's deputy commissioner ordered Aleema Khan detained for 30 days under the MPO, citing public order concerns. Dr Uzma Khan and Noreen Niazi were later detained under the same section on police recommendations, and all three were moved to Kot Lakhpat Jail. PTI says the detentions form part of a broader crackdown.

The petitions challenging the detention orders were filed through Barrister Taimur Malik. They name the Punjab government, its Home Department, the Lahore deputy commissioner and other officials as respondents.

Aleema Khan was detained in Lahore on Sunday on the order of Deputy Commissioner Muhammad Ali Ijaz. Her lawyer, Rana Mudassar Umer, said Lytton Road police took her into custody after she left her residence in the Upper Mall area. He said her vehicle was taken to a police station before she was transferred to jail.

The detentions followed a late-night police operation at Aleema Khan's residence, according to her lawyer. He said Noreen, Uzma, Aleema's sons Shahrez Khan and Shershah Khan, other relatives and household staff were taken into custody. The two sons were later released, according to reports.

What has PTI said about the detentions?

PTI has condemned the detentions, saying they form part of a broader crackdown ahead of its planned Sept. 27 nationwide protest and march towards Islamabad. PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Khan said the march would be peaceful and political, aimed at pressing the party's constitutional and political demands.

Gohar Khan called for Aleema Khan's release and said her detention could further heighten tensions. He also criticised the detention of Uzma Khan and Noreen Niazi, saying the arrests of lawmakers, party workers and Khan's family members could further intensify political tensions.

At a news conference in Lahore, Noreen Niazi said the family would not be deterred by the detentions. She described Sept. 27 as an important date in the campaign for Imran Khan's release.

Umer said police had previously told a court that Aleema Khan and Dr Uzma Khan were not involved in the Jinnah House case. He questioned the timing of the MPO orders and said the legal team was considering its next steps.

Malik also criticized the late-night raids on the homes of Aleema and Uzma. He alleged that relatives, including Sakeena Niazi, Shahrez Khan and Shershah Khan, as well as domestic workers and a cook, had been taken away. Malik said the legal team would challenge what he described as an abuse of state power.

How is Islamabad preparing for the PTI march?

Authorities have positioned containers at key entry points and around the Red Zone. They are preparing additional barriers and trenches on major routes leading to the capital, and soil-filled bags are being used to reinforce containers and roadblocks. Reports said machinery and labor had been arranged for trenching work.

Thousands of police and other law-enforcement personnel are expected to be deployed across Islamabad, Rawalpindi and Attock. Security measures are also being tightened at routes connecting Khyber Pakhtunkhwa with the Islamabad-Rawalpindi region.

Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi has urged PTI to reconsider the march and said the government would enforce an Islamabad High Court order concerning the protest. He warned that authorities would respond according to the law if the party proceeded. Naqvi has said the government will take all necessary measures to prevent protesters from entering the capital, while PTI has maintained that it intends to proceed with the march.

The Islamabad High Court has ruled that political parties have no legal right to occupy public roads, highways or other public places. It also directed provincial chief ministers to ensure that government resources and official machinery are not used for the Sept. 27 protest.

The party says the protest is intended to demand Imran Khan's release and press for what it describes as the supremacy of the Constitution and the law. The detention of the former prime minister's three sisters, together with heightened security around Islamabad, has added to tensions ahead of the planned protest.