Imran Khan's sisters Uzma and Noreen arrested in Lahore

Lahore police arrested Uzma Khan and Noreen Niazi, sisters of former prime minister and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan, on Monday, a party spokesperson said. Their sister Aleema Khan had been detained a day earlier after the Lahore deputy commissioner ordered her detention for 30 days. The arrests come five days before PTI's planned protest on September 27.

PTI spokesperson Sheikh Waqas Akram confirmed that Punjab Police had taken the two sisters, their children and the sons of Aleema Khan into custody. He said they were placed in an armoured vehicle and taken to an undisclosed location. Akram called the action illegal and said the party condemned it.

The PTI central media department issued a statement calling the arrests "a blatant abuse of authority, a violation of fundamental rights, and an act of political victimisation." The party demanded that the women's whereabouts be disclosed immediately, that they be returned safely, and that they be produced before a court.

In a social media post, the PTI general secretary referred to the arrests of Aleema Bibi, Nooreen Bibi and Azmi Bibi and said attacks and arrests of workers, ministers and parliamentarians in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Islamabad had increased the party's responsibility. The post said a committee had been formed to manage party affairs in Lahore district through consultation and agreement, and consultations with Punjab MPs would be held over the next two days.

The detentions follow PTI's call for a protest on September 27. Punjab police had not issued a statement explaining the arrests at the time of filing. NDTV reported on Monday that three of Imran Khan's sisters had been arrested before the protest, though it did not distinguish between Monday's arrests and the earlier detention of Aleema Khan.