Pakistani Police Detain Close Aides of Imran Khan Amid Party Crackdown

Pakistani police detained two close aides of former prime minister Imran Khan in a raid on his party's secretariat in Islamabad. The party's acting chairman was later released, but the secretary information's status remains unclear. Khan has been jailed for a year amid allegations of a military-backed political crackdown.

Pakistani police detained two close aides of jailed former prime minister Imran Khan on Monday during a raid on his party secretariat. However, one of the aides was later released, according to the party and local media reports.

A police contingent cordoned off the secretariat in Islamabad, detaining acting party chairman Gohar Khan and secretary of information Rauf Hasan. A party spokesman, Zulfikar Bukhari, confirmed the detentions via a WhatsApp message but said the acting chairman was released shortly afterward.

There was no immediate information on whether Hasan remained in custody or if the two men had been charged. A police spokesman mentioned the search of the secretariat's digital media wing and the detention of some officials, without providing further details.

Pakistan's information and interior ministries have yet to respond to requests for comment. Former prime minister Khan has been in jail for about a year despite the suspension or overturning of his four convictions. His party claims the military is behind a crackdown to prevent Khan from regaining power, a charge the army denies.

(With inputs from agencies.)