Pakistani police arrested Alima Khan, the sister of the country's former prime minister Imran Khan, at her home in Lahore. The representative of the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) party in Punjab stated about it on Sunday, Reuters reports.
The arrest took place before the protest march planned by the party on September 27.
Government and police officials did not respond to a Reuters inquiry about the reasons for the arrest.
According to local media, Alima Khan was arrested when she was about to leave for Gymkhana Club. Later, he was reportedly shifted to Kot Lakhpat Jail. This information was not confirmed by the police in a comment given to Reuters.
Imran Khan has been in custody since August 2023, after the court sentenced him to three years in prison in the case of illegal sale of state gifts. The investigation alleged that between 2018 and 2022, during his prime ministership, he illegally acquired and sold gifts to the state from foreign governments. Khan denied the allegations.
After Khan was removed from office in a no-confidence vote in April 2022, numerous cases were filed against him, including charges of corruption, disclosure of state secrets and illegal marriage. In January 2024, Khan was sentenced to 10 years in prison in the state secrets case, and in January 2025, he received a 14-year sentence in the Al-Qadir Foundation case, which was linked to corruption allegations.
At the same time, the legal status of these cases has changed. By August 2026, all but one of Khan's convictions had been suspended or overturned, and appeals were ongoing, according to Reuters. The former prime minister himself denies any wrongdoing and insists that the prosecution has political motives.
Khan was removed from power in April 2022 after a vote of no confidence in parliament. His party continues to demand his release. The PTI march planned for September 27 should become another action supporting the former prime minister and his political movement.
