The family of jailed former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan says several of his relatives have been detained by authorities, marking a significant escalation in the government's crackdown just days before a major opposition protest planned for September 27.

Kasim Khan, the former prime minister's son, took to social media to allege that his aunts, Dr. Uzma and Noreen, along with cousins Shershah and Shahrez, were taken from their homes by security forces. He said no explanation was provided for the detentions and the family was not informed of where the relatives were being held.

"They have broken into my aunties and cousins houses and forced them into vehicles with no explanation," Kasim wrote on X. "No reasons for arrest have been stated. No news has been released as to where they have been taken."

He later reported that two more cousins, Azeem and Sakeenah, had also been picked up. In an earlier post, Kasim had expressed concern about two young children — aged four and six — belonging to cousin Shahrez, though he later confirmed they were safe.

The allegations came on the heels of the detention of another of Imran Khan's sisters, Aleema Khan, in Lahore on Sunday. She was ordered held for 30 days under the Punjab Maintenance of Public Order Ordinance of 1960, with local officials citing public safety and law-and-order concerns. She was transferred to Kot Lakhpat Jail. Her son, Shahrez Khan, had earlier described the detention as an "abduction" and said the family initially had no idea where she was being kept.

PTI has denounced the actions and called for Aleema's immediate release.

Imran Khan Undergoes Medical Check-Up in Jail

The widening crackdown coincides with developments around Imran Khan's own health. The 73-year-old former leader underwent a medical evaluation inside Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi. A specialist team from the state-run Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences assessed his blood pressure, cholesterol levels, and vision, according to Geo News.

PTI has repeatedly raised alarms about Khan's deteriorating condition and has pushed for his transfer to Shifa International Hospital for thorough treatment. Pakistan's Supreme Court ordered such a transfer on August 18, but the government cited security reasons and instead sent him to PIMS before returning him to prison.

Khan has been behind bars since 2023, facing a series of legal proceedings that followed his ouster through a parliamentary no-confidence vote in April 2022.

With the September 27 march to Islamabad now less than a week away, the detention of multiple family members signals a sharp intensification of tensions between the government and the opposition party.