Pakistani authorities have detained Aleema Khan, sister of former Prime Minister Imran Khan, ahead of a planned protest march by his political party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI). The arrest took place on Sunday at her residence in Lahore, the capital of Punjab province.

According to a notification from Lahore’s district administration, Aleema Khan has been placed in preventive detention for 30 days under the Maintenance of Public Order (MPO) law. The order cited intelligence reports suggesting her presence in public could pose a threat to public safety. The MPO law permits authorities to detain individuals if deemed necessary to maintain public order or safety.

The arrest occurred exactly one week before the PTI-organized march scheduled for September 27, which is intended to demand the release of Imran Khan, who is currently imprisoned. Lahore police officials confirmed the detention but provided limited details. Aleema Khan’s lawyer, Rana Mudassar Umer, stated that she was taken into custody when she left her home with her driver and that the location of her detention was unknown.

Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi previously said the government would take all possible measures to prevent the upcoming PTI protest march. The party, through senior figures including Zulfi Bukhari, a close aide to Imran Khan, condemned the arrest as unjustified and described it as an attempt to intimidate supporters ahead of the demonstration.

The PTI has called for Aleema Khan’s immediate release, characterizing her detention as illegal and politically motivated. Meanwhile, the government has not issued an official statement regarding the arrest since the district administration’s notification.

The developments come amid a tense political atmosphere in Pakistan, with opposition parties pressing for the release of Imran Khan, who faces legal challenges and is imprisoned in connection with ongoing cases. The planned protest march represents a significant mobilization effort by PTI supporters in the capital city of Islamabad.