A prominent Pakistani women's rights movement, Aurat March, on Tuesday, 22 September strongly condemned the arrests of family members of former Prime Minister Imran Khan — including his sisters, nieces, nephews, and minors — calling the state's actions a 'horrific' attempt to crush dissent ahead of a planned nationwide protest.

The Arrests and Their Context

Imran Khan's three sisters — Uzma Khan, Noreen Niazi, and Aleema Khan — were detained on the orders of the Lahore Deputy Commissioner, who authorised a 30-day detention, according to Pakistani daily Dawn. The detentions took place just days before the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) protest and long march scheduled for 27 September, which PTI leaders had announced on 13 September to demand Imran Khan's release and the restoration of democratic norms and constitutional supremacy in Pakistan.

What Aurat March Said

In a post on X, Aurat March described the arrests as part of a 'long line of establishment-backed violent measures' targeting PTI and other political movements and organisations protesting across Pakistan. The group was careful to note that it does not ally with any political party and has disagreed with some of PTI's positions over the years.

'While we don't ally with any political party and have also disagreed with some of PTI's policies over the years, however, we believe the state's horrific efforts to crush any form of dissent, and intimidation and picking up of Imran Khan's relatives and preventing PTI supporters from marching on the streets of Islamabad is unconstitutional and inhumane, and should be condemned by all citizens,' Aurat March said.

The group also affirmed: 'Every Pakistani has the right to peacefully protest and present their demands to the state.'

A Wider Pattern of Crackdowns

Aurat March's statement linked the arrests to broader repression, citing the re-arrest of human rights lawyers Imaan Zainab Mazari-Hazir and Hadi Ali Chattha, as well as the life imprisonment of Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC) leaders including Mahrang Baloch and Gulzadi Baloch. The group further pointed to reported atrocities in Balochistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir as evidence of a systematic effort to silence those challenging the establishment's narrative.

Pakistan's Democracy Under Scrutiny

Calling the current period 'dark times for democracy, constitution, and resistance', Aurat March appealed to all Pakistanis regardless of political affiliation to speak out. The condemnation adds to a growing chorus of civil society voices questioning the legality of detaining family members — including minors — of a political leader. Pakistan's government has not publicly responded to the specific allegations raised by Aurat March.

All eyes now turn to 27 September, when the PTI long march is expected to test whether security forces will allow the demonstration to proceed and how broadly civil society rallies behind the opposition's demands.