Pakistan’s top court declares Imran Khan’s arrest illegal, orders his immediate release

ISLAMABAD / KARACHI, Pakistan (AA): Pakistan’s Supreme Court on Thursday declared former Prime Minister Imran Khan’s arrest in a corruption case illegal, ordering his immediate release.

A three-judge bench led by Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandial, hearing a petition seeking the ex-premier’s release asked Khan to approach the Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Friday, which had declared the arrest lawful.

The CJP said the ex-premier will have to comply with the high court’s ruling, and will stay at a police guest house Thursday night.

Khan, 70, was detained by the country’s anti-corruption agency in a corruption case from the IHC on Tuesday, sparking countrywide protests.

He was produced before the judges amid tight security as hundreds of policemen and paramilitary troops were deployed across the top court building.

As violent demonstrations against Khan’s arrest continued, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairman called upon his workers to “stay peaceful.”

“My message to all is: desist from arson and violence. Don’t attack public or private properties,” he said in response to a remark by the chief justice asking him to denounce the violence that gripped the nation over the past three days after his arrest, according to local media.

Earlier, the chief justice had asked authorities to produce Khan before the court within an hour, questioning the manner in which he was arrested.

PTI, government react to court order

Khan’s PTI party welcomed the apex court’s judgment, saying it “fully” believes in a “peaceful political struggle.”

In a statement, the party said it would announce its “future course of action soon.”

The government dubbed the judgment as “selective.”

Addressing a press conference in Islamabad, Pakistan Defense Minister Khawaja Asif contended that the judiciary has “completely ignored” attacks on military and government installations.

The ruling Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz group) criticized the ruling, saying it is tantamount to “fueling the fire” in the country.

“The Chief Justice is responsible for attacks on sensitive installations across the country (during protests),” charged Maryam Nawaz, the PML (N) vice-president, in a tweet.