Three of Imran Khan’s sisters reportedly held in Lahore before planned rally

The Khan family has announced that three of former prime minister Imran Khan’s sisters were detained by police in Lahore, days before a major rally in Islamabad that aims to demand his release. The claim, first reported by Al Jazeera, says the women were taken into custody without a public explanation, and that no official statement has been issued by the authorities.

According to Al Jazeera, the family relayed the information through a spokesperson who said the sisters were being held at a local police station. The spokesperson declined to provide the sisters’ names or the exact charges, noting that the family would seek legal recourse and request their immediate release. Law enforcement in Pakistan has not responded to requests for comment.

Imran Khan, the former premier who was ousted in a 2022 parliamentary vote, has been serving a prison sentence since his conviction on corruption charges related to the Al‑Taj cargo case. His supporters have organized a series of nationwide protests, accusing the judiciary of political bias. The current march, scheduled for next week in the capital, is expected to draw thousands of demonstrators demanding his unconditional freedom.

Detentions of relatives and close associates have become a recurring feature of the government’s response to Khan’s mobilisations. In 2023, several of his brothers were briefly held ahead of a similar protest, a pattern observers say reflects an effort to exert pressure on the opposition by targeting family members. Human‑rights groups have warned that such tactics undermine due process and could inflame already volatile public sentiment.

Opposition parties, including the Pakistan Peoples Party and the Pakistan Muslim League (N), have condemned the arrests, calling them an intimidation campaign. International observers have urged Pakistani authorities to ensure that any arrests comply with legal standards and to allow peaceful assembly. The Interior Ministry, however, maintains that security operations are aimed at preventing potential unrest.

The planned Islamabad march is set to begin at the D-Chowk venue, with organizers promising a peaceful demonstration despite the heightened security presence. Analysts suggest that the detention of Khan’s sisters could either deter participants or galvanise further support, depending on how the narrative unfolds in the coming days.