Police on Monday arrested two sisters of Pakistan’s imprisoned former prime minister Imran Khan in Lahore, a day after detaining another of his sisters, Aleema Khan, a spokesperson for his Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party said.

Dr Uzma Khan and Noreen Niazi were detained for 30 days on Monday, ahead of the party’s planned September 27 protest, Dawn reported.

“Shame on the Government of Punjab and Punjab Police. This action is illegal and is strongly condemned,” Sheikh Waqas Akram, the spokesperson, wrote on X (formerly known as Twitter).

The arrests came a day after Lahore’s deputy commissioner ordered the detention of Imran’s sister Aleema Khan for 30 days.

“According to intelligence reports, her presence at any public place will pose a grave threat to public safety,” the district administration said.

Pakistan’s Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi said on Saturday that the government would do everything it could to prevent the protest march.

The PTI has called for a countrywide protest and march to the capital on September 27, demanding Imran Khan’s release from jail and the supremacy of the constitution.

The move comes amid reports of a crackdown on PTI activists and supporters ahead of the planned protest.