Pakistan jails Imran Khan's three sisters ahead of protest march for his release

Pakistani authorities arrested all three sisters of imprisoned former prime minister Imran Khan and jailed them for 30 days under the country's Maintenance of Public Order law, their lawyer said Monday.

Aleema Khan was detained Sunday in Lahore while traveling to a private club. Her sisters Uzma Khan and Noreen Niazi were arrested around 3 a.m. Monday after holding a press conference condemning the detention. Their lawyer, Rana Mudassir Umar, said more than 100 police entered the family home, taking the sisters along with their children, grandchildren, and household staff. The children were later released.

None of the sisters hold a political position in Khan's party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf. They have campaigned publicly for their brother's release since his 2023 arrest on corruption charges, including camping outside the prison where he is held. Khan's family says he has been denied family visits and calls for six months and blocked from medical treatment for an eye condition.

The arrests came days before a nationwide "long march" PTI has called for Sunday to demand Khan's release. Interior minister Mohsin Naqvi said the government would "find a permanent solution" to stop the march "once and for all." Islamabad has been sealed off with shipping containers and heavy armed security.