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PTI said armed men in plain clothes stormed Aleema Khan’s home in Lahore and forcibly took away Imran Khan’s nephew Shahrez Khan
Imran Khan and his sister Aleema Khan. File image/X
In a chilling escalation of pressure tactics against the family of former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan, his nephew Shahrez Khan was allegedly abducted from his Lahore residence by armed men, according to Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI). Shahrez is the son of Khan’s sister Aleema Khan, whose house was also vandalised in the late-night operation.
Sources told CNN-News18 that the attackers appeared to be in plain clothes but were wearing bulletproof jackets and moved in a coordinated manner, resembling trained military personnel. CCTV footage purportedly shows the attackers forcefully entering the house and breaking into Shahrez Khan’s bedroom. House staff were reportedly beaten up, and the family was subjected to harassment.
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PTI has alleged that the abduction came just a day after Shahrez and his wife were illegally offloaded from a flight at Lahore airport. “Shahrez Khan has no connection to any political activity,” a PTI spokesperson said, demanding that the Chief Justice of Pakistan take immediate notice and ensure his safe recovery.
In a post on X, PTI Secretary General Salman Akram Raja said: “Aleema Bibi’s home in Lahore has been attacked by men in plain clothes — her son, Shahrez, has been abducted, the family harassed, and the staff beaten up.”
Aleema Bibi’s home in Lahore has been attacked by men in plain clothes. Her son Shahrez has been abducted, the family harassed and the staff has been beaten up.— salman akram raja (@salmanAraja) August 21, 2025
Shaikh Waqas Akram, PTI’s Secretary of Information, added that suspicious individuals wearing civilian clothing and bulletproof jackets were visible on CCTV footage from the residence.
Sohail Khan, father of Shahrez, confirmed the abduction. “Five armed, masked men with guns stormed into the house and took my son Shahrez away,” he said. “He was also placed on the Exit Control List (Pakistan’s official travel ban list) and was offloaded from a Lahore-bound flight just two days ago.”
Separately, Imran Khan’s sons, Sulaiman and Qasim, who are currently abroad, have not been allowed to speak to their father by phone. According to their mother, Jemima Goldsmith, authorities have blocked all telephonic communication between Khan and his sons. She also claimed the two were warned they could face arrest if they attempted to visit Pakistan.
Police claim Shahrez Khan was arrested in connection with the May 9, 2023, violence, one of the most serious political crises in Pakistan’s recent history. That day, widespread protests broke out across the country following Imran Khan’s arrest. Demonstrators stormed military installations, including the Corps Commander’s house in Lahore and the Army’s General Headquarters in Rawalpindi. The state later labelled the events an anti-state conspiracy and launched sweeping crackdowns on PTI leaders, workers, and sympathisers, with many facing charges under anti-terrorism laws.
In a late-night statement, DIG Operations Lahore Police confirmed that Shahrez Khan had been arrested in connection with investigations into the May 9 violence and would be presented in court. “Strict legal action is underway against those involved in the May 9 incidents,” the DIG said, adding that no concession would be made for anti-state activity.
Aleema Khan, known for her strong and sometimes controversial support of her brother’s cause, has frequently spoken out against the military-backed crackdown on PTI. Her statements have often put her at odds with even the party’s top leadership.
About the Author
Group Editor, Investigations & Security Affairs, Network18
Group Editor, Investigations & Security Affairs, Network18
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