by India Today World DeskThe arrest of Imran Khan was on Thursday declared “illegal” by Pakistan’s Supreme Court, which also ordered the immediate release of the former prime minister. The development comes after he was produced before a bench on the orders of Imran Khan.
On Tuesday, Imran Khan was arrested from the Islamabad High Court (IHC) in the Al-Qadir Trust corruption case. Besides, an accountability court on Wednesday handed him over to the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) on eight-day remand.
Meanwhile, widespread protests by Imran Khan’s supporters were witnessed across Pakistan, prompting the government to forces in Islamabad, as well as in Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan provinces. At least eight people died in violent protests,
Imran Khan’s arrest sparks massive protests in Pakistan – here’s what happened
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Imran Khan was arrested by the National Accountability Bureau on Tuesday in connection with corruption charges after security agents stormed the Islamabad High Court and dragged him out.
Imran Khan, who was ousted as Pakistan’s prime minister last year and leads the opposition, faces more than 100 legal cases, most of which involve allegations that he incited violence and threatened police and government officials. Gave. He also faces at least three corruption cases. A fresh terrorism charge was filed against him on Thursday for allegedly inciting his followers to violence after his arrest.
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from tuesday, protesters clash with police, who have arrested around 3,000 supporters of Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party. These include Khan’s deputy who has been jailed.
At least eight Khan supporters were killed in this week’s violence. Dozens of protesters and over 200 police officers were injured. Protesters set fire to trucks, cars and police vehicles and blocked highways.
This echoed the unrest that followed the assassination of former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto during an election rally in 2007. At that time, his supporters, enraged by his murder, created uproar throughout Pakistan for several days.
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Amid violence, Pakistan police filed fresh terrorism charges on Thursday against Imran Khan and top leaders of his Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party for inciting mobs to violence.
In an address to the nation late on Wednesday, Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said that Imran Khan was arrested because of his involvement in corruption and there was evidence to support these allegations.
He said the unrest had forced him to deploy troops in Islamabad, in Punjab – Pakistan’s most populous province – and in troubled areas of the northwest.
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on Thursday, The Supreme Court of Pakistan declared Imran Khan’s arrest illegal two days ago., It released him from custody, and ordered that he be kept under the protection of security forces at a secure location in the capital Islamabad.
The head of his legal team, Babar Awan, underlined that Khan was a “free citizen” and would be allowed to meet lawyers and supporters. Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandial urged Khan to appeal to his supporters to remain peaceful.
Following the Supreme Court’s release order on Thursday, Imran Khan spent a night at a government guest house in Islamabad, where he met his family members and friends. The country’s President Arif Alvi also met him.
In a video shared by a journalist, Imran Khan’s convoy is seen returning from the Supreme Court.
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On Friday, Imran Khan was granted bail till May 23, when he returned to the court to hear whether he would be protected from fresh arrest or taken back into custody. An anti-terrorism court had granted him bail till May 23 in a case of inciting violence. The case was registered at Ramna police station.
Meanwhile, his party announced a rally on the occasion and asked followers to assemble near the court for the leader’s address.