Pakistan’s Supreme Court Directs ‘Immediate Release’ of Imran Khan, Terms His Arrest ‘Unlawful’

Islamabad, May 11: The Supreme Court (SC) of Pakistan on Thursday came to rescue of the former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan by terming his arrest “illegal” and directing him to before the Islamabad High Court (IHC) on May 12.

The SC on termed Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan’s arrest in the Al-Qadir Trust case “unlawful”.

According to Pakistani media, Imran Khan regretted the violent incidents in the country in protest of his arrest on May 9.

Dawn reported that the SC instructed that Imran Khan should be “immediately released”.

The top court said that the PTI chief would be kept at the Police Lines Guest House but would not be considered a prisoner, and directed the Islamabad police chief to ensure the ex-premier’s security.

“The government would have to guarantee Imran’s security,” Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Umar Ata Bandial directed.The orders were issued as a three-judge bench comprising the CJP, Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar and Justice Athar Minallah resumed hearing Imran’s plea against his arrest, Dawn reported.

The court had directed the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) to present Imran before the court, it added.

Khan was presented in court amid fortified security after 5:45pm.