In a major relief for Imran Khan, Pakistan’s Supreme Court on Thursday ruled that the former prime minister’s arrest was “illegal” and ordered his immediate release, after he was brought before a court under its orders.
A three-member bench comprised of Chief Justice of Pakistan Umar Ata Bandial, Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar, and Justice Athar Minallah, ordered the 70-year-old Khan to be produced.
The bench that heard the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf chairman’s plea against his detention in the Al-Qadir Trust case, voiced ire at the manner in which Khan was brought into custody from the Islamabad high court’s premises.
The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) had been ordered by the court’s bench to present Khan by 4:30 pm (local time) when the court would reconvene.
Khan was produced before the court amid tight security. As he entered the courtroom, it was closed, and subsequently, the bench resumed the hearing of the case.
“It is good to see you,” Chief Justice Bandial told Khan. “We believe that Imran Khan’s arrest was illegal,” the top judge said.
He said that the case be heard by the Islamabad High Court on Friday. “You will have to accept whatever the high court decides,” the judge added.
Bandial added that maintaining law and order is the duty of every politician.
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