Pakistan police briefly detain Imran Khan’s sisters and party leaders

Pakistani authorities briefly detained several key leaders of the opposition party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), and relatives of former Prime Minister Imran Khan outside Rawalpindi's Adiala Jail on Thursday, where he is currently incarcerated.

The PTI leaders had gone to the jail to meet Imran Khan, but were arrested by authorities, who stated they were taken into "preventive custody".

Punjab Police presented arrest warrants for Imran Khan's three sisters -- Aleema Khan, Uzma Khan, and Naureen Khan -- and his cousin, Qasim Khan. They were taken into custody alongside PTI leaders, including Omar Ayub, the opposition leader in the National Assembly; Malik Ahmed Khan Bhachar, the opposition leader in the Punjab Assembly; and Sahibzada Hamid Raza.

The police said that the arrests were preventive measures to maintain order, as PTI leaders and Imran Khan's family had gathered outside the jail, with concerns that they might block the road and disrupt public order.

Later, PTI Secretary General Sheikh Waqas Akram condemned the arrests in a press release, claiming they were aimed at pressuring Imran Khan into striking a deal. He criticized the current regime for disregarding court orders, the law, and the Constitution.

Imran Khan's sisters had last met him on March 20, and since then, they had been denied further visits. Aleema Khan had informed the media that jail authorities had assured them a meeting would be possible during their next visit, scheduled for that day.

What actually happened

When the family and PTI leaders arrived at the jail, they were reportedly denied access to Imran Khan.

In response, they threatened to stage a sit-in at a nearby under-construction site. Punjab Police soon arrived, presented arrest warrants, detained the group briefly, and then released them.

It is important to note that the Islamabad High Court had earlier ruled that Tuesday and Thursday were designated days for visitors to meet Imran Khan.