Khan Family Detained Ahead of PTI Protest March

Family members of Pakistan’s former Prime Minister Imran Khan have voiced serious concerns regarding his health and living conditions in a Rawalpindi prison. According to reports shared with Deutsche Welle, the 73-year-old politician is reportedly suffering from deteriorating eyesight and is being held in a small cell with limited outdoor access. The situation has intensified as his sons describe a pattern of isolation from legal counsel and medical professionals that has persisted for several months.

These allegations come on the eve of a significant political confrontation. The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party has organized a protest march for September 27 to pressure the government of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif for Khan's release. In response to the rising tensions, authorities have detained three of Khan's sisters in Lahore, citing public order concerns, a move the family describes as an attempt to intimidate supporters ahead of the rally.

Health concerns in Rawalpindi prison

Sulaiman and Kasim Khan, who are based in London, stated that they have received very little information about their father's medical status. They claim that when they last spoke by phone in March, Khan reported losing a significant portion of his vision in one eye, a condition they say was neglected for months. The brothers further allege that he is confined to a tiny cell and allowed outside for only one or two hours daily, with strict restrictions on contact with family and doctors.

The sons are urging the Pakistani authorities to comply with Supreme Court orders by transferring Khan to Shifa International Hospital for an independent medical assessment. They emphasize the need for regular family visits and access to a personal physician, arguing that the current restrictions violate his right to adequate healthcare and legal representation.

Detentions of sisters in Lahore

As preparations for the weekend protest accelerate, Khan's three sisters were taken into custody in the Punjab capital of Lahore on Monday. The detention orders were issued under a public order ordinance, with officials citing concerns that the sisters posed a threat to public safety. The family asserts that these arrests were carried out in the middle of the night without clear justification, specifically to send a warning to the opposition and its base.

Government stance on public order

The federal government has rejected the characterization of these actions as a political crackdown, maintaining that its primary objective is to prevent violence and maintain stability. Talal Chaudhary, the minister of state for interior, warned that while citizens have the right to protest peacefully, the state will not tolerate actions that threaten lives or property. He referenced previous incidents of unrest to underscore the government's resolve to enforce law and order during the upcoming demonstrations.

The coming days will likely test the boundaries of civil disobedience in Pakistan, with security forces poised to manage the PTI march. Observers will watch closely for any escalation in tensions between the protesters and the state, as well as the legal responses to the family's demands for medical transparency and the release of the detained sisters.