Mr. Khan left the courthouse grounds, heading towards his hometown of Lahore, under tight security. The arrest, which the Supreme Court of Pakistan ruled "invalid and illegal" the day before, has further fueled instability in the nation of 220 million people. Pakistan is mired in an economic crisis, with record inflation, weak growth, and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) delaying bailout funds.
Police escort former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan (center) as he arrives at the Supreme Court in Islamabad on May 12, 2023. Photo: AFP
Mr. Khan welcomed the court order and said that the judiciary is the sole protector of Pakistani law. "I must say that I expected this from our judiciary, because it is our only hope now…," he told reporters inside the courthouse grounds.
Many cities in Pakistan have witnessed violent protests following Khan's arrest by anti-corruption authorities last Tuesday. Khan denies any wrongdoing.
His supporters stormed military facilities, set fire to the state television building, vandalized buses, ransacked the home of a top military official, and attacked other properties, resulting in nearly 2,000 arrests and the deployment of troops.
At least eight people have been killed in the violence, which has exacerbated the country's instability and dashed hopes of resuming a crucial International Monetary Fund bailout.
The Pakistani military has warned against further attacks on its property and called the violence "premeditated." The Pakistani military still holds significant political and economic roles in the country. However, the military has stated its support for the democratic process.
Mr. Khan, 70, a cricket hero turned politician, was removed from the prime ministership in April 2022 in a no-confidence vote by the Pakistani parliament and remains the country's most popular leader according to opinion polls.
Huy Hoang (according to Reuters, AFP)
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