Archive · 3 Oct 2026
Report Says Pakistan Uses Detentions to Restrict Women’s Political Organizing
A report says three sisters of former Prime Minister Imran Khan were detained in Lahore.
They had planned to join a demonstration asking for his release.
The authorities said the sisters might disturb public peace by mobilising supporters.
The report argues that their detention was meant to stop them from encouraging other people to take part.
The demonstration was moved to a later date, but the sisters were still in custody, according to the report.
Their family says they have begun a hunger strike.
The report also describes the re-arrest of lawyer Imaan Mazari-Hazir and her husband after a court ruling in their favor.
It presents these cases as examples of wider political repression.
The article does not include a response from the detained women or the authorities beyond the stated public-order rationale.
Imran Khan’s sisters Aleema Khan, Uzma Khan and Noreen Niazi were detained in Lahore ahead of a rally seeking his release.
The report says each sister received a 30-day detention order under the Punjab Maintenance of Public Order Ordinance.
The demonstration was postponed from September 27 to October 4, while the sisters remained detained, according to the report.
Authorities said the sisters were mobilising supporters and posed a potential risk to public peace and tranquillity.
The report also cites the re-arrests of lawyer Imaan Zainab Mazari-Hazir and her husband after a court granted them bail and suspended their sentences.
- Who
- Imran Khan’s sisters Aleema Khan, Uzma Khan and Noreen Niazi; the report also discusses Imaan Zainab Mazari-Hazir and Hadi Ali Chattha.
- What
- The three sisters were detained under 30-day orders before a planned demonstration seeking Imran Khan’s release.
- When
- Aleema Khan was detained on September 20; Uzma Khan and Noreen Niazi were detained the following day. The year is not specified.
- Where
- Lahore, Pakistan.
- Why
- Authorities said the sisters were mobilising supporters and could threaten public peace and tranquillity; the report characterizes the detentions as an effort to limit political organizing.
Authorities’ stated rationale
Report’s criticism
Basis for detaining Khan’s sisters
Authorities’ stated rationale
Authorities said the sisters were mobilising supporters and represented a potential danger to public peace and tranquillity.
Report’s criticism
The report argues that they were detained for their political advocacy and potential influence, rather than after a court established that they had committed a crime.
Meaning of the court ruling in the Mazari case
Authorities’ stated rationale
The article reports that a court granted bail to Imaan Zainab Mazari-Hazir and Hadi Ali Chattha and suspended their 17-year sentences, but gives no official explanation for their subsequent re-arrest.
Report’s criticism
The report says their re-arrest shortly after the ruling showed that a court order might not have practical effect.
- Detained
- Aleema Khan, Uzma Khan and Noreen Niazi
- Location
- Lahore, Pakistan
- Detention period
- 30 days, under orders cited in the report
- Legal basis
- Punjab Maintenance of Public Order Ordinance
- Planned protest
- Originally scheduled for September 27 and postponed to October 4
- Family’s response
- The report says the sisters’ family stated they had resorted to a hunger strike.
- Other case cited
- Imaan Zainab Mazari-Hazir and Hadi Ali Chattha were reportedly re-arrested after bail was granted and their 17-year sentences were suspended.