A tense and dramatic situation unfolded near Adiala Road on Thursday as senior leaders and close relatives of former Prime Minister Imran Khan were arrested just before a planned meeting with the jailed PTI founder.

Those detained include Imran Khan’s sisters — Aleema Khan, Uzma Khan, and Noreen Khan — his cousin Qasim Niazi, and prominent PTI figures like National Assembly Opposition Leader Omer Ayub Khan, Punjab Assembly Opposition Leader Malik Ahmed Khan Bachchar, former state minister Zartaj Gul, and Sahibzada Hamid Raza.

According to sources, the arrests took place inside an under-construction plaza on Adiala Road, where the PTI leaders had gathered to discuss party matters with Imran Khan. Police arrived with arrest warrants for at least seven individuals, including Khan’s family members and key political allies.

Eyewitnesses described a heated confrontation between PTI leaders and law enforcement. The situation escalated when police sealed the building’s main gate, effectively trapping everyone inside. Despite protests and vocal resistance, officers insisted, “We will arrest all of them.”

Adding to the drama, Omer Ayub arrived at the site on a motorcycle, having taken back routes to evade police blockades. Speaking to reporters, he condemned the arrests and questioned the state's approach: “How can the opposition leader be stopped like this? This is a moment of reflection for our judiciary.”

Ayub stated that the PTI leaders were there for a peaceful and legal purpose — to meet their party founder. He later consulted with Aleema Khan before the police locked down the entire premises.

Outside the plaza, a heavy police presence kept media and PTI supporters at bay, while inside, the mood grew tenser by the hour.

Earlier, Aleema Khan had expressed deep concern over the state’s handling of her brother’s rights. Speaking to the media, she said, “We’re not violating any laws — it’s the authorities who are acting unconstitutionally. If they jail us, we’ll go. If they leave us in a desert, we’ll return. But we won’t leave until we meet our brother.”

Omer Ayub, before being taken into custody, delivered an emotional message: “I didn’t let Mohsin Naqvi sit in the National Assembly. I won’t let Shahbaz Sharif either. My life is for our leader, Imran Khan.”