Pakistan’s political scene took a dramatic turn on August 22, 2025, as Imran Khan second nephew, Sher Shah Khan Arrested in Lahore over his alleged role in the May 9, 2023, riots. This bombshell comes just 24 hours after his elder brother, Shahrez Khan, was detained in a similar high-stakes operation, sending shockwaves through the country. The arrests have sparked a firestorm of controversy, with Imran Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) slamming them as “abductions” and accusing authorities of waging a vendetta against the former premier’s family. Here’s a deep dive into the arrests, the fiery backdrop of the May 9 riots, and what this means for Pakistan’s already turbulent politics.
The Arrest: Drama Unfolds in Lahore
Sher Shah Khan was nabbed on Friday, August 22, 2025, near his family’s home in Lahore, according to eyewitnesses. Reports suggest plainclothes men, backed by uniformed police, swooped in shortly after Sher Shah appeared at a Lahore anti-terrorism court (ATC) for his brother’s case. PTI didn’t hold back, calling the arrest an “abduction” and blasting the authorities for replacing the “rule of law with the law of the jungle.” The party’s official X account raged against the detention, claiming it’s a direct attack on Imran Khan’s family, especially after the Supreme Court granted bail to the PTI founder in eight May 9 cases just a day earlier.
Lahore police confirmed the arrest, linking it to Sher Shah’s alleged involvement in the May 9, 2023, riots that erupted after Imran Khan’s arrest in a corruption case. A senior police official told The News that the case is under investigation but stayed tight-lipped on specifics. This secrecy has only fueled PTI’s claims of political targeting, with supporters questioning why both of Aleema Khan’s sons were detained within a day of each other. The timing, hot on the heels of Imran’s legal win, has raised eyebrows and intensified the political drama.X
The May 9 Riots: When Pakistan Erupted
To grasp why Sher Shah’s arrest is such a big deal, let’s rewind to May 9, 2023—a day that shook Pakistan to its core. Imran Khan, the larger-than-life former PM and PTI founder, was arrested by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) at the Islamabad High Court over the Al-Qadir Trust corruption case. What followed was chaos. PTI supporters flooded the streets, their protests spiraling into violent riots targeting military and government sites. Iconic locations like the General Headquarters (GHQ) in Rawalpindi, the Lahore Corps Commander’s residence (Jinnah House), the ISI office in Faisalabad, and the Mianwali Airbase were vandalized in an unprecedented attack on Pakistan’s powerful military.
The fallout was brutal: at least eight people died, over 290 were injured, and more than 1,900 PTI supporters were rounded up. The government cracked down hard, deploying the army in Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and Islamabad. Top PTI leaders like Asad Umar, Fawad Chaudhry, and Shah Mehmood Qureshi were arrested, and thousands faced charges under anti-terrorism laws. Military courts got involved, with Imran’s nephew Hassan Niazi—another relative of Aleema’s sister Noreen Niazi—slapped with a 10-year sentence in December 2024 for his role in the riots.
The Jinnah House attack, where protesters stormed and torched the Lahore Corps Commander’s residence, is at the heart of the cases against Sher Shah and Shahrez. Police claim their involvement was confirmed through “supplementary statements” filed months later, but PTI’s Salman Akram Raja calls this nonsense, insisting the brothers have no political ties and are being targeted for their family name.
The Khan Family: Caught in the Crossfire
Sher Shah’s arrest is the latest blow to Imran Khan’s family, which PTI says is under a relentless government assault. On August 21, 2025, Shahrez Khan was arrested in a dramatic raid at his Lahore home. Aleema Khan took to X, alleging “four masked armed men” barged in through the kitchen, terrifying Shahrez’s young daughters and assaulting staff. She branded the government a “fascist regime” unleashing a “reign of terror.” PTI heavyweights like Omar Ayub and Ali Amin Gandapur echoed her outrage, calling the arrests “barbaric” and “despicable.” READ NEXT https://elevenpakistan.com/pakistan-yasir-sultan-wins-bronze-with-77-43m/
Aleema, a fierce defender of her jailed brother Imran, has been a thorn in the side of the military establishment. Her bold call to hold Army Chief Field Marshal Asim Munir accountable for any harm to Imran has made her a target. The arrests of her sons, alongside Hassan Niazi’s 19-year sentence, have fueled PTI’s narrative of a witch-hunt against the Khan family. Shahrez, an Oxford grad and triathlete working for an Australian linen company, was hauled before a Lahore ATC, where he got an eight-day remand. His legal team, led by Raja, argued he wasn’t even in Lahore during the riots and has no political involvement. Details on Sher Shah’s role remain murky, but PTI insists he’s another innocent caught in the crosshairs.
Pakistan’s Political Powder Keg
The arrests have set social media ablaze, with PTI supporters on X calling them proof of a “hybrid regime” crushing dissent. Posts from users like @BarristerMansur and @Ali_MuhammadPTI point to the Supreme Court’s bail ruling for Imran as the trigger for this crackdown. But not everyone agrees—users like @badar5569 argue the arrests are a step toward justice for the May 9 violence. The divide reflects Pakistan’s polarized politics, where Imran remains a hero to some and a troublemaker to others.
These arrests could spell trouble for the government. Targeting Imran’s family might be an attempt to break PTI’s spirit ahead of by-elections, but it’s also rallying the party’s base. Leaders like Khyber Pakhtunkhwa CM Ali Amin Gandapur are demanding the brothers’ release, while Aleema vows to keep spreading Imran’s message. The Supreme Court’s bail decision was a rare win for PTI, but the swift arrests of Sher Shah and Shahrez have sparked accusations of judicial sabotage. Critics, including Raja, slam the use of vague “supplementary statements” 27 months after the riots as a sign of bad faith.
What’s Next for Pakistan?
As Sher Shah and Shahrez face the courts, PTI’s fight is getting personal. The party’s legal team, including Raja and Malik Asif Ahmad Naswana, is gearing up for a fierce battle, vowing to fight the cases tooth and nail. The government, meanwhile, insists anyone involved in the May 9 riots must face justice, with DIG Investigation Zeeshan Raza saying “anti-state” actors don’t get a free pass.
Pakistan’s political system is on shaky ground, with personal grudges and power struggles overshadowing governance. The Khan family’s ordeal is a rallying cry for PTI supporters, who see Imran as a symbol of defiance against a rigid establishment. But with over 100 cases against him and his family under fire, Imran’s comeback is an uphill climb. Sher Shah’s arrest isn’t just a legal issue—it’s a spark that could ignite more unrest.
In the days ahead, all eyes will be on the courts and the streets. Will PTI’s protests gain steam, or will the government’s crackdown keep them in check? One thing’s for sure: the saga of Imran Khan and his family is far from over, and Pakistan’s political drama is only heating up.
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