Pakistan’s Supreme Court has ruled that the arrest of former Prime Minister Imran Khan was unlawful and has ordered his release. The arrest took place on May 9 by paramilitary troops on corruption charges. Khan was initially detained in a guesthouse inside police headquarters. However, his lawyers petitioned against the proceedings taking place in police headquarters instead of a courthouse. The police justified the move by stating it was to maintain law and order by keeping Khan away from the public.
He was then detained in a guesthouse inside police headquarters where he appeared for a special hearing in front of a judge behind closed doors on Wednesday before being remanded in custody for eight days for a charge brought by Pakistan’s anti-corruption agency.
Khan’s lawyers had petitioned against judicial proceedings against their client taking place in police headquarters instead of a courthouse.
Police had justified the move, saying it was to keep Khan away from the public to maintain law and order.
Following his arrest, eight people have died and hundreds have been arrested as protests pitting his supporters against army supporters turned violent.
The former PM is accused of illegally acquiring land to construct a university and has also been charged in a separate case for unlawfully selling gifts sent to him by foreign leaders while in office.
In a pre-recorded statement released on YouTube by Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) political party after his arrest, the former prime minister said he was “detained on incorrect charges” and told his supporters “the time has come for all of you to come and struggle for your rights.”
