PTI alleges Aleema Khan arrested in Lahore

Police in Lahore on Sunday arrested Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan’s sister Aleema Khan and detained her for 30 days under the Maintenance of Public Order (MPO) Ordinance, days before the party’s planned Sept 27 protest march.

According to a copy of the order available to The Express Tribune, Lahore Deputy Commissioner Capt (retd) Muhammad Ali Ijaz issued the detention order on September 20 under Section 3 of the Maintenance of Public Order (MPO) Ordinance, 1960. The order also named Aleema’s driver, Muhammad Ameer, directing that both be detained for 30 days from the date of their arrest at Central Jail, Kot Lakhpat.

The order cited concerns over public safety and the maintenance of public order.

The order stated that the Lahore Capital City Police Officer (CCPO) forwarded a request based on reports submitted by the SP Civil Lines Division and the In-charge District Intelligence Branch.

The reports said that Aleema and Ameer had been involved in the May 9 protests and road blockades and had motivated workers to damage public and government property.

The police and intelligence reports further stated that the two were again mobilising workers through social media and public meetings, potentially creating a law and order situation.

The reports also accused them of raising what the order described as “objectionable slogans” against the government and institutions in an attempt to provoke or incite members of the public. Multiple cases, including FIR No. 96/23 registered at Race Course police station, were cited in support of the request for detention.

The authorities described the two as “potential dangers to public peace and tranquillity” and recommended their detention for 30 days under the MPO to maintain law and order in Lahore.

The matter was subsequently placed before the District Intelligence Committee at a meeting held on September 20 under the chairmanship of the Lahore deputy commissioner.

According to the order, the committee discussed the matter and endorsed the evidence and material provided by the police department before unanimously recommending detention of both individuals to maintain the law and order situation in the city.

Read: Aleema says public backs Imran’s release

The deputy commissioner said he was satisfied, based on the material submitted by the CCPO and the committee’s recommendation, that the presence of the two individuals at any public place would pose a “grave threat to public safety” and was likely to cause a breach of public peace and order.

The order was issued under powers conferred through a 2017 Punjab Home Department notification and Section 3(1) of the Punjab MPO Ordinance, 1960.

The order also states that the detainees may make a representation to the provincial government against their detention.

According to the family sources, Aleema was travelling towards Gymkhana Club when police intercepted her vehicle and took her into custody along with her driver and the car. They said she had left her residence around 1:15pm to 1:20pm after offering Zuhr prayers.

The family sources said that she was subsequently taken towards Lytton Road and was expected to be shifted to Kot Lakhpat Jail under the MPO law.

PTI, TTAP condemn Aleema Khan detention

PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan has condemned the arrest of Aleema, saying it was the first step towards worsening the situation. “Our march will be peaceful and political. We do not want any confrontation or violence,” he said, adding that the party’s objective was to pursue a peaceful struggle for constitutional and political demands.

Gohar said arresting Aleema or detaining her under the MPO amounted to fuelling tensions. He called on the government to immediately stop such measures and release her. He added that the party would soon announce its course of action against such measures.

The Tehreek Tahafuz Aain Pakistan (TTAP) also strongly condemned the detention of Aleema, terming it an escalation of the ongoing crackdown on political workers and their families.

In a statement, TTAP said Aleema had been detained under the 3-MPO and alleged that her detention had been carried out despite there being no charge against her. The alliance said the action had created an atmosphere of fear among political workers and their families.

Read more: Aleema says Imran will not bow

The statement further alleged that the Punjab government’s actions against political workers were aimed at disrupting political activity ahead of the September 27 protest. TTAP has announced the September 27 protest as part of its campaign for protection of the Constitution, Parliament and provincial rights.

“The relentless crackdown on political workers in Punjab has now reached families. Aleema’s detention under 3-MPO, with no charge and days before September 27, is repression at its peak. It will not break our resolve. Resisting it is our duty,” said TTAP provincial leader Shayyan Bashir.

TTAP demanded the immediate release of Aleema and other political prisoners, saying the government should end what it described as a series of arrests and restrictions on political activity.

Aleema’s son, Shahrez Khan, said his mother was abducted after leaving home on Sunday morning, adding that the family had had no contact with her or information about her whereabouts.

Shahrez wrote on X, “My mother, Aleema Khan, was abducted after leaving home this morning. Our family has had no contact or news of her whereabouts. She is on bail in all cases against her in Lahore. We demand the government immediately disclose her whereabouts and ensure her safe return.”

Sohail Afridi condemns Aleema’s arrest

Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi also condemned Aleema’s arrest, saying the treatment of women in Punjab in the presence of a woman chief justice was “shameful”.

He said the sanctity of the veil and four walls was being violated “without any fear”.

“Once again, the way Aleema Khan was abducted and transferred to jail” was condemnable, Afridi said, describing her arrest as nothing but “the worst form of political victimisation”.

“If they have differences with the founding chairman, they should compete with the ideology and politics of the founding chairman,” the chief minister said.

“What kind of politics, law and morality is it to target his wife, sisters and women of his family?” he asked.

Noreen Niazi urges stronger participation in Sept 27 march

Imran’s sister Noreen Niazi urged people to put even greater emphasis on the September 27 protest march, further stating that everyone across Pakistan should participate in the movement.

Talking to reporters in an emergency press conference, Noreen stated that the orders of the Supreme Court were not being followed and that Imran was being kept in isolation and not shifted to the hospital. “My family is part of this movement and the entire country is also involved in this movement”.

Noreen emphasised that if the authorities believed that arresting Aleema would “frighten” them or prevent them from participating, then they were mistaken. “We will all come out, remain steadfast, and will not be afraid regardless of who they arrest or how many people are arrested.

Noreen further alleged that Aleema had been “abducted,” saying that the authorities had not shown any warrant or document before taking her and had instead taken her from the street. “We do not know where Aleema Khan has been taken or where she is being kept, and the family has neither been contacted nor informed about her whereabouts”.

She added that “we initially thought that we will proceed in a measured manner, but now, we will come out with even greater force”.

Noreen called on people to stand up more resolutely than before to secure their own freedom and that of the country and also for the release of Imran, adding that the “oppression and injustice taking place had now reached every household”.

PTI Information Secretary Sheikh Waqas Akram also condemned the detention of Aleema, saying the government had abducted an elderly woman from outside her home.

Akram wrote on X, “Maryam Nawaz says women are a red line. Today, their government abducted Aleema, an elderly woman, from outside her home. This is not justice; it is cowardice. A sister is being imprisoned as punishment for speaking for her brother. If women are a red line, then present Aleema in court right now.”

PTI founder Imran’s sister Noreen Khan held a telephone conversation with Opposition Leader in the Senate Allama Raja Nasir Abbas.

Abbas said the government had become nervous and that the determination of Imran’s sisters was encouraging workers and the nation. He said the struggle of Imran and his sisters represented resistance against oppression in Pakistan. He added that they were standing with the Constitution of Pakistan and the people while enduring hardships.

He condemned the arrest of Aleema, saying the detention of a sister exposed the government’s nervousness. He alleged that the government had become fearful of September 27 and was therefore now arresting the sisters as well.

Noreen said they were working for the Pakistani people and their brother.

She said such arrests could not break their resolve and instead made them stronger. Noreen added that Aleema’s arrest could not weaken them and that they would continue their efforts.

It is pertinent to mention that the area where she was allegedly intercepted does not fall under the jurisdiction of Lytton Road Police Station.