May 12, 2023 – Order for the immediate release of Pakistan’s former PM Imran Khan.
The Supreme Court of Pakistan on Thursday declared the arrest of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf chief Imran Khan as “illegal” and ordered his immediate release. The former prime minister got a big relief shortly after appearing in the court. Khan, who was ousted as prime minister in April last year, was ordered by the Supreme Court to appear at 4:30 pm but was produced an hour later at 5:40 pm.
Khan was ordered to appear in court after Chief Justice of Pakistan Umar Ata Bandial said that PTI leader Khan’s detention from the Islamabad High Court premises was a huge affront to the country’s legal system. The Chief Justice made these comments while presiding over a three-judge bench hearing PTI’s appeal challenging Khan’s arrest.
The Chief Justice of Pakistan, the bench also includes Justices Mohammad Ali Mazhar and Atal Minallah. The PTI had filed a petition in the Supreme Court challenging the Islamabad High Court’s (IHC) decision that the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) had declared Khan’s arrest as “lawful”.
After Khan’s arrest, there is a state of unrest in Pakistan. With the PTI urging its supporters to come in support of Imran Khan, there have been various protests across the country. During the demonstration, at least 10 people died and more than 2,000 people were injured. Hundreds of protesters have been arrested from all over the country.
