Mr Khan left the court premises and headed to his hometown of Lahore amid tight security. The arrest, which Pakistan's Supreme Court ruled "invalid and illegal" a day earlier, has further stoked unrest in the country of 220 million people. Pakistan is in the throes of an economic crisis, with record inflation, weak growth and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) delaying a bailout.
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 the judiciary is the sole guardian of Pakistan's law. "I must say that I expected this from our judiciary, because it is the only hope now…", he told reporters inside the court premises.
Several cities in Pakistan have seen violent protests after Mr Khan was arrested by anti-corruption authorities on Tuesday. Mr Khan denies any wrongdoing.
His supporters stormed military facilities, set fire to the state television building, smashed buses, ransacked the home of a top military official and attacked other properties, leading to nearly 2,000 arrests and the deployment of troops.
At least eight people have been killed in violence that has deepened the country's unrest and dashed hopes of a resumption of a crucial bailout package from the International Monetary Fund.
The Pakistani military has warned against further attacks on its assets, calling the violence “premeditated”. The Pakistani military still holds significant political and economic roles in the country. However, the military says it supports the democratic process.
Mr Khan, 70, a cricket hero turned politician, was ousted as prime minister in April 2022 in a no-confidence vote by Pakistan's parliament and remains the country's most popular leader according to opinion polls.
Huy Hoang (according to Reuters, AFP)
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