LAHORE: Aleema Khan, sister of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan, was detained by police under Section 3 of the Maintenance of Public Order (MPO) Ordinance, 1960, party sources said on Sunday.

According to the sources, Aleema was taken into custody while leaving her residence on Lahore’s Upper Mall to go to a gym. She was subsequently shifted to Kot Lakhpat Jail, while her vehicle remained parked at Lytton Road police station.

Noreen Niazi, another sister of Imran Khan, told that Aleema was detained after leaving her home and that she had received information that she was being taken to Kot Lakhpat Jail.

“I do not know why they are so worried that they are arresting women as well,” Noreen said.

She said PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan had contacted her to inquire about the circumstances surrounding Aleema’s arrest.

Noreen said the family was not frightened by such measures and would continue its efforts for Imran Khan.

Barrister Gohar condemned Aleema’s arrest and called for her immediate release, saying such measures could further increase political tension.

He reiterated that PTI’s planned march was intended to remain peaceful and political and that the party sought to pursue its constitutional and political demands through peaceful struggle.

“We do not want any kind of confrontation or violence,” he said, adding that the party would announce its strategy against the arrest and other measures.

Earlier, Gohar said negotiations with the government had made no progress because of what he described as a “cold” political environment.

Speaking to media in Peshawar, he said political issues required political solutions and that all sides would have to take steps towards resolving them.

PTI has announced a nationwide protest and a march on Islamabad on September 27, with the release of Imran Khan and supremacy of the Constitution among its stated demands.

Gohar’s remarks came a day after Senate Opposition Leader and Tehreek Tahaffuz Aiyeen-e-Pakistan Vice Chairman Allama Raja Nasir Abbas said Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi had met opposition leaders.

Abbas said the opposition had conveyed its position to the interior minister and maintained that only Imran Khan could decide whether the September 27 march should be postponed.

Gohar did not deny having meetings with Naqvi, saying that consultations and meetings continued.

He also said efforts were under way to increase the capacity of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa police, noting that the provincial government had spent Rs45 billion on the police department last year.

Gohar said there would be no political interference in police affairs and that the chief minister’s authority would be used for institutional improvement rather than personal preferences.

On the planned September 27 protest, Gohar expressed reservations about recent court directions concerning the KP police chief and government resources.

He referred to an Islamabad High Court ruling directing provincial governments and chief ministers to ensure that public resources were not used to facilitate participation in protests heading towards the federal capital.

The court had also directed provincial authorities to ensure that public servants were not compelled to participate in any such march.

On Saturday, KP Inspector General of Police Zulfiqar Hameed directed police officers not to facilitate any march, rally or procession heading towards Islamabad.

Gohar said an impression should not be created that the people and police of KP would be placed in confrontation with each other.

He reiterated that PTI would not violate the law or block roads during the protest and assured that government resources would not be used to facilitate the party’s planned march towards Islamabad.