LAHORE: The Lahore deputy commissioner has ordered the detention of Aleema Khan, sister of jailed former Pakistan Prime Minister and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan, for 30 days under Section 3 of the Punjab Maintenance of Public Order (MPO) Ordinance, 1960, according to Pakistani media reports.
The detention order directs that Aleema Khan remain in the custody of the superintendent of Kot Lakhpat Jail in Lahore for a period of 30 days from the date of her detention. Reports said she was taken into custody in Lahore on Sunday and was subsequently shifted to Kot Lakhpat Jail.
The development comes just days before PTI's planned September 27 long march towards Islamabad, which the party says is aimed at demanding the release of Imran Khan and pressing for what it describes as constitutional supremacy and the rule of law.
Police Allegations Against Aleema Khan
According to the detention order cited in Pakistani media reports, Lahore police submitted a report to the deputy commissioner based on information and recommendations from the SP Civil Lines Division and the District Intelligence Branch.
The authorities have alleged that Aleema Khan was involved in activities connected with the May 9 protests, including alleged road blockades and efforts to mobilise PTI supporters.
The detention order further alleges that she encouraged PTI workers to damage government and public property and used social media platforms and public gatherings to mobilise supporters.
Authorities also alleged that slogans considered objectionable by the government and state institutions were raised during activities associated with her.
These allegations are contained in the preventive-detention material cited by the authorities and have not been established as facts by a court. Aleema Khan and PTI have rejected the government's position.
PTI Condemns Detention
The PTI has strongly condemned Aleema Khan's detention, describing it as unlawful and demanding her immediate release.
The party has also alleged that other PTI workers are being detained as part of a broader crackdown ahead of its planned September 27 mobilisation. The Express Tribune reported that PTI Central Punjab condemned Aleema Khan's arrest and alleged that party workers were also being taken into custody.
Aleema Khan has remained publicly active in campaigning for her brother's release and has repeatedly raised concerns about his treatment in prison and his access to family members and medical care.
Earlier this month, she herself approached the Islamabad High Court over the alleged solitary confinement of Imran Khan. The court subsequently directed Adiala Jail authorities not to keep Imran Khan and his wife, Bushra Bibi, in solitary confinement and ordered that family meetings and telephone contact be facilitated.
Detention Comes Ahead of September 27 PTI March
Aleema Khan's detention comes against the backdrop of intensified political activity by PTI.
The party has announced a long march towards Islamabad on September 27, with PTI leaders saying the mobilisation is intended to demand Imran Khan's release and raise issues relating to constitutional and democratic rights.
The proposed march has already become the subject of legal proceedings. The Islamabad High Court has ruled that political parties do not have a lawful right to occupy public roads, highways, interchanges, toll plazas or government buildings, while also directing provincial authorities to ensure that state machinery is not misused in political protests.
Pakistan's Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi has separately warned that the government would prevent protesters from entering Islamabad and said organisers would be held responsible for any loss of life during the demonstration.
PTI, meanwhile, has continued to say that the march will proceed.
Legal Challenge to Punjab's Preventive-Detention Law
Aleema Khan's detention also comes at a time when the legal basis for preventive detention under Punjab's MPO law is facing scrutiny before the courts.
On September 18, the Lahore High Court reserved its verdict on the maintainability of a petition filed by two opposition members of the Punjab Assembly challenging Sections 3 and 16 of the Punjab Maintenance of Public Order Ordinance, 1960.
Section 3 provides the legal framework for preventive detention, while Section 16 contains provisions concerning restrictions on judicial review. The petitioners have argued that the provisions conflict with constitutional guarantees relating to personal liberty, due process, freedom of movement and assembly, and equality before the law.
The court's decision on the maintainability of that petition remains separate from Aleema Khan's individual detention case.
Lahore High Court Recently Set Aside PTI Leader's Detention
The use of MPO detention powers has also come under judicial scrutiny in another recent PTI-related case.
On September 18, the Lahore High Court set aside a detention order against PTI leader Usman Farooq after government law officers failed to satisfy the court regarding the grounds cited for his detention.
According to Dawn, the court noted inconsistencies in the detention order, including conflicting positions regarding Farooq's association with the political party and the absence of a date in the order. The court subsequently allowed the petition challenging his detention and set aside the deputy commissioner's order.
The ruling has added to the legal debate surrounding the use of preventive detention powers in Punjab, particularly in cases involving opposition activists and political workers.
A Politically Sensitive Development
Aleema Khan's detention is likely to add another layer of tension to Pakistan's already charged political environment.
Her arrest comes at a particularly sensitive moment for PTI, with the party preparing for a major mobilisation while authorities are simultaneously seeking to enforce restrictions on protests and prevent disruption of public roads and government infrastructure.
For the government, the detention order is based on allegations that authorities say justify preventive action under the MPO law. For PTI, the detention represents what the party describes as an attempt to suppress its political activity ahead of the September 27 march.
The competing claims are now unfolding alongside ongoing court proceedings concerning both the legality of preventive detention and the rights of political parties to organise protests.
Aalimi Nation | International Desk
