Today (Friday), the High Court in Islamabad released former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan on bail, according to the Pakistani “Geo News” channel.
The court agreed to release Khan, who faces corruption charges, on bail after a court in Islamabad declared yesterday (Thursday) that his arrest earlier this week was unlawful. The court ruled that the authorities did not arrest the former prime minister in any case or communication filed against him until May 17.
The former cricket star appeared before the Supreme Court yesterday, after his lawyers filed a challenge to the legality of his arrest, which sparked protests across the country. He told the Supreme Court that he had been kidnapped from the Islamabad Court, confirming that he had been beaten. Geo TV reported that the Supreme Court had ordered the anti-corruption agency to release Imran Khan. Chief Justice Umar Atta Pandial asked Khan to appeal to his supporters to remain peaceful as the country faced unrest on the streets.
Khan’s arrest on Tuesday in a fraud case sparked widespread and violent protests in Pakistan, prompting the government to call in the army to help restore order.