Pakistan's Supreme Court declares arrest of Imran Khan illegal

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
11 May 2023 18:21
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Khan was taken into custody on Monday by authorities following a hearing on the Al-Qadir Trust case.

Police officers clear the way for the car carrying Pakistan's former Prime Minister Imran Khan after he appeared at the Supreme Court, in Islamabad, Pakistan, Thursday, May 11, 2023 (AP Photo/Anjum Naveed)

Pakistani broadcaster GEO TV reported on Thursday that the Supreme Court of Pakistan ruled the arrest of former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan is unlawful and ordered his immediate release.

🚨 Imran Khan footage in the Supreme Court. pic.twitter.com/37iq4QjAqL
— Ihtisham Ul Haq (@iihtishamm) May 11, 2023

Khan was taken into custody on Monday by authorities following a hearing on the Al-Qadir Trust case.

The former Premier's detention followed months of political crisis and came hours after the powerful military criticized the former PM for accusing a senior officer of being involved in a plot to assassinate him.

On Tuesday, Pakistan's authorities said Khan was facing an inquiry by the National Accountability Bureau in the Al-Qadir Trust case involving the PTI and a property Tycoon.

A deal struck between the two parties reportedly caused the loss of 50 billion Pakistani rupees ($17.6 million) to the national exchequer.

Nearly 1,000 people have been detained in Punjab since protests broke out following the arrest of Khan.

In a statement, the police reported the arrest of "945 lawbreakers and miscreants from across the province."

Local media reported at least eight people were killed and 290 were injured in light of the clashes.