Sister of Pakistan's ex-PM Imran Khan arrested

The sister of Pakistan's imprisoned former prime minister, Imran Khan, has been arrested ahead of next week's protests held in his support, his Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party has said.

Aleema Khanum was detained in the eastern city of Lahore on Sunday afternoon, PTI officials said, calling it an "illegal detention". Her son is demanding her return.

The order for Khanum's arrest, which came from Lahore's deputy commissioner, alleged that she was mobilising Imran Khan's supporters "through social media and public meetings". It added that she will be detained for 30 days.

Khanum is a vocal critic of her brother's detention, regularly speaking to his supporters and the media.

A police official confirmed Khanum's arrest to the BBC. According to the order, she will be taken to Kot Lakhpat jail in Lahore.

Earlier in the day, her family said they had had "no contact or news of her whereabouts".

"We demand the government immediately disclose her whereabouts and ensure her safe return," Khanum's son Shahrez Khan wrote on X.

Many have linked her arrest to the protests that have been organised across the country on 27 September, when demonstrators plan to march to the Pakistani capital, Islamabad.