Pakistan arrests Imran Khan's sister ahead of opposition march

Pakistani security forces arrested Maleha Bukhari, sister of former Prime Minister Imran Khan, shortly before a scheduled party demonstration in Islamabad on Wednesday. The detention of the PTI politician drew immediate condemnation from the party, which characterized the move as an unlawful effort to obstruct the march and silence Khan's relatives during his incarceration.

The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party said the arrest represented yet another example of judicial overreach and harassment by state institutions. Party officials contended that Bukhari faced no legitimate legal basis for detention and framed her case as part of a broader campaign to weaken Khan's political movement.

Khan, who served as prime minister until 2022, has faced a series of legal challenges since his ouster. The former cricketer-turned-politician remains jailed while facing convictions on charges his supporters maintain are politically motivated. The PTI has organized multiple demonstrations demanding his release and broader democratic reforms.

The arrest underscores escalating tensions between Khan's opposition movement and the Pakistani government, with civil rights groups expressing concern over detention practices and freedom of assembly. The timing of Bukhari's arrest—coinciding with party organizing efforts—intensified debate over the treatment of political opponents in Pakistan.