PTI alleges fresh arrests ahead of September 27 march

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) on Sunday alleged that several party-linked figures were arrested as authorities stepped up action ahead of the party’s planned September 27 protest march.

PTI founder Imran Khan’s sister Aleema Khan was arrested in Lahore, according to the party, with reports telling that the Lahore district administration ordered her detention for 30 days under the Maintenance of Public Order law.

The administration said in its notification that Aleema Khan’s presence at a public place could pose a threat to public safety.

The detention comes ahead of PTI’s planned march to Islamabad seeking Imran Khan’s release, Reuters reported.

PTI leader Brigadier (retd) Mushtaq later said Aleema Khan had been moved to an undisclosed location.

The PTI Central Punjab spokesperson strongly condemned her detention and alleged that a large number of party workers were also being arrested.

“These arrests are continuing on a large scale,” the spokesperson said.

In a post on X, PTI alleged that Aleema Khan had been “abducted” from outside her home.

Her lawyer Rana Mudassar Umar also alleged that she had been illegally detained, saying Aleema Khan had bail in all cases registered against her in Lahore. He said he did not know where she was being held or which police station had taken her into custody.

‘Noreen Niazi’s daughter and son-in-law arrested’

Meanwhile, PTI leader Sheikh Waqas claimed in separate posts on X that Noreen Niazi’s daughter and son-in-law were stopped at a police picket outside the American School in Lahore and later arrested.

He said the two were being taken to Race Course Police Station.

Noreen Niazi’s daughter and son-in-law were stopped at a police picket in front of the American School in Lahore, later arrested, and are being taken to Race Course Police Station.

— Sheikh Waqas Akram (@SheikhWaqqas) September 20, 2026

‘MNA Ahsan Jamal Khan arrested’

In another post, Sheikh Waqas claimed that MNA Ahsan Jamal Khan from Mianwali was arrested in front of the National Assembly.

MNA Ahsan Jamal Khan from Misnwali has been arrested in front of National Assembly.

— Sheikh Waqas Akram (@SheikhWaqqas) September 20, 2026

PTI Barrister Syed Ali Zafar also condemned what he described as the arrests of PTI parliamentarians, workers and leaders across the country.

Party worker Shayan Bashir and MNA Mian Ghaus arrested: Barrister Syed Ali Zafar

In a post on X, Zafar specifically mentioned Shayan Bashir from Lahore and MNA Mian Ghaus from Islamabad, saying the arrests were “highly condemnable”.

He claimed that the arrests were being carried out because of fear of PTI’s planned September 27 protest.

Zafar said peaceful protests in support of one’s rights and political leadership were a constitutional and legal right of a political party and its workers.

“Attempting to suppress the voice of the people through the use of state power is detrimental to the country,” he said.

لاہور سے شایان بشیر اور اسلام آباد سے رکن قومی اسمبلی میاں غوث سمیت پورے ملک میں تحریک انصاف کے پارلیمنٹرینز، کارکنان اور رہنماؤں کی گرفتاریاں قابلِ مذمت ہیں۔ 27 ستمبر کے پُرامن احتجاج سے خوفزدہ ہو کر اس قسم کی گرفتاریاں سیاسی کشیدگی کو مزید بڑھائیں گی۔ اپنے حق کے لیے اور اپنے…

— Barrister Syed Ali Zafar (@SyedAliZafar1) September 20, 2026

KP chief minister reacts to fresh arrest

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi also condemned Aleema Khan’s detention, calling it “the worst form of political revenge”.

In a post on X, Afridi said that the treatment of women in Punjab and the alleged violation of the sanctity of homes were “shameful” and contrary to social traditions.

He alleged that Aleema Khan had been detained under the Maintenance of Public Order law and questioned why the families of Imran Khan were being targeted.

ایک خاتون چیف جسٹس کے ہوتے ہوئے پنجاب میں خواتین کے ساتھ جو سلوک کیا جا رہا ہے، اور چادر چار دیواری کا تقدس بغیر کسی ڈر اور خوف کے پامال کیا جا رہا ہے وہ انتہائی شرمناک اور ہماری روایات کے منافی ہے۔

آج صبح ایک بار پھر علیمہ خان کو جس انداز میں اغوا کیا گیا اور 3MPO کے تحت جیل…

— Sohail Afridi (@SohailAfridiISF) September 20, 2026

The latest developments come two days after PTI Secretary General Salman Akram Raja was released following around four hours in police custody.

According to PTI, Raja was detained in the Nilore area of Islamabad while returning from Kotli Sattian, where he had gone to attend the funeral prayers of PTI leader Ejaz Satti.

Following his release, Raja alleged that he and several other PTI workers had been detained to prevent them from attending the funeral.

The developments come amid heightened tensions between PTI and the government over the party’s planned September 27 march. Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi has said the government would take all necessary measures to prevent the protest from entering Islamabad, Reuters reported.