Pakistan’s Supreme Court Thursday ruled that former prime minister Imran Khan’s dramatic arrest on corruption charges 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.
At least 10 people have been killed and 2,000 arrested as violent protests have swept the country since he was held.
Tuesday’s arrest escalated growing tensions between him and the military.
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He was then detained in a guesthouse inside police headquarters where he appeared for a special hearing in front of a judge behind closed doors on Wednesday before being remanded in custody for eight days for a charge brought by Pakistan’s anti-corruption agency.
Khan’s lawyers had petitioned against judicial proceedings against their client taking place in police headquarters instead of a courthouse.
Police had justified the move, saying it was to keep Khan away from the public to maintain law and order.
Following his arrest, eight people have died and hundreds have been arrested as protests pitting his supporters against army supporters turned violent.
The former PM is accused of illegally acquiring land to construct a university and has also been charged in a separate case for unlawfully selling gifts sent to him by foreign leaders while in office.
In a pre-recorded statement released on YouTube by Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) political party after his arrest, the former prime minister said he was “detained on incorrect charges” and told his supporters “the time has come for all of you to come and struggle for your rights.”
The former cricketer-turned-politician’s arrest turbocharged what was already a tense showdown between the military and Khan’s supporters that had been simmering for months.
The largest protests took place in the cities of Lahore and Peshawar, both political strongholds for Khan, and saw crowds clash with security forces.
Hundreds of protesters stormed the headquarters of the national broadcaster Radio Pakistan in Peshawar, setting the building on fire.
