Pakistan’s Supreme Court Declares Imran Khan’s Arrest Illegal

Pakistan’s Supreme Court rules former prime minister Imran Khan’s dramatic arrest this week was illegal. The court ordered Mr Khan’s immediate release. His lawyers had argued that his detention from court premises in Islamabad on Tuesday was unlawful.

LEADERSHIP reports that Khan was arrested outside a High Court in Islamabad, the country’s capital. Pakistan’s government said he was taken into custody for not cooperating with authorities in an ongoing corruption investigation.

Since his arrest, tens of thousands of his supporters have taken to the streets in key cities across Pakistan to protest, hundreds of protesters stormed the headquarters of the national broadcaster Radio Pakistan, setting the building on fire. At least ten people died in clashes, more than 300 injured and over 650 people were detained.

According to Reuters, nearly 1,000 Khan supporters were arrested. Private schools were ordered shut nationwide, with certain countries, including the United States, issuing travel advisories. The government blocked mobile internet services in a bid to quell the chaos, disrupting access to Twitter, Facebook and YouTube. Popular apps and digital payment systems were also disrupted.