Key facts
- Three sisters of former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan have been arrested and jailed for 30 days.
- The arrests are part of a crackdown ahead of a planned nationwide protest by Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party.
- Khan's family alleges he is being denied family visits, calls, and vital medical treatment.
- Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi stated the government would "find a permanent solution" to prevent the march.
- Security has been significantly increased in Islamabad, with roads blocked and tens of thousands of personnel deployed.
Pakistani authorities have arrested three sisters of jailed former Prime Minister Imran Khan and hundreds of party activists as part of a crackdown ahead of a planned nationwide protest. The demonstration, organized by Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party, aims to demand his release and protest alleged democratic erosion under the ruling coalition government.
Aleema Khan, Uzma Khan, and Noreen Niazi were detained and jailed for 30 days under a warrant accusing them of being a threat to public order, according to their lawyer. Khan's family alleges he is being held in solitary confinement, denied family visits and calls for six months, and prevented from accessing necessary medical treatment for an eye condition.
Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi stated the government would "find a permanent solution" to prevent the march, which is anticipated to draw large crowds despite Khan's incarceration. Security in the capital, Islamabad, has been significantly heightened, with roads blocked by shipping containers and tens of thousands of security personnel deployed. Khan's party claims the government fears the protest could topple the administration, citing recent similar movements in neighboring countries.
The crackdown escalates pressure on PTI, which has faced persistent harassment, with many senior figures either jailed or pressured to leave politics. The military, widely seen as the ultimate power broker in Pakistan, is reportedly at odds with Khan, who was ousted as prime minister in 2022 and claims to be a political prisoner. His sons, based in London, have accused Army Chief Asim Munir of a "personal vendetta" against their father.