Saudi Press

Saudi Arabia and the world
Monday, Feb 10, 2025

Imran Khan leaves court after being granted bail

Imran Khan leaves court after being granted bail

Pakistan's ex-prime minister Imran Khan has left court premises in Islamabad, a day after the Supreme Court ruled his dramatic arrest on corruption charges was illegal.
On Friday evening, Mr Khan's party said he was heading for the city of Lahore.

Judges granted Mr Khan protected bail, meaning he can not be re-arrested on those charges for two weeks.

The court also ordered he could not be arrested on any charges filed after last Tuesday until 17 May.

Despite the rulings, the corruption charges against Mr Khan still stand.

"The head of the country's largest party was abducted, kidnapped from the high court, and in front of the entire nation," Khan told AFP from the court building.

"They treated me like a terrorist, this had to have a reaction," he said of the protests that followed.

Mr Khan remained within court premises after the hearing on Friday seeking preventive bail against other charges, which he told the BBC included counts of terrorism, sedition and blasphemy.

Conviction would disqualify the former international cricket star - and Pakistan's prime minister from 2018 to 2022 - from standing for office, possibly for life. Elections are due later this year.

Mr Khan had arrived at the hearing under heavy armed guard, and greeted supporters with a single raised fist.

Speaking during Friday's hearing, Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandial said the arrest was unlawful because it took place on court premises.

He ordered that the "whole process" of Mr Khan's arrest "needs to be backtracked".

The 70-year-old - who was arrested on Tuesday as he arrived at a courthouse in Islamabad - pleaded not guilty to the charges when a judge formally indicted him with corruption for the first time in the dozens of cases he faces.

Officials say Mr Khan unlawfully sold state gifts during his premiership, in a case brought by Pakistan's Election Commission.

The dramatic saga has significantly escalated tensions between Mr Khan and Pakistan's powerful military.

Many analysts believe Mr Khan's election win in 2018 happened with the help of the military, which both parties denied.

But he later fell out with the army. After a series of defections, and amid mounting economic crises, he lost his majority in parliament.

Since being ousted less than four years into his term, he has become one of the military's most vocal critics, and analysts say the army's popularity has fallen.

And his PTI party says the charges against him - which relate to gifts given to him by foreign leaders while he served as prime minster - are politically motivated.

His dramatic arrest outside the courthouse on Tuesday sparked outrage among Mr Khan's supporters.

At least 10 people were killed and some 2,000 arrested as unrest swept the country. Those protests included an attack at a military commander's home residence in Lahore, which was set on fire.

While this week's violence petered out after the army was deployed in Islamabad and other areas, such as Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the country remains on edge.

Critics say the PTI has been fuelling unrest through social media posts calling for protesters to take to the streets, and judges told Mr Khan that he must condemn the violence and tell supporters to stop.

Mr Khan says he and his party only call for peaceful protest.

Pakistan's current Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, who took power after Khan was ousted, criticised the Supreme Court's ruling to free Khan in a cabinet speech aired on state TV.

He alleged that judges had favoured Imran Khan, and their ruling had caused "the death of justice in Pakistan".

He further criticised Mr Khan and his party for their inflammatory language and encouraging protesters to take to the streets.

"Imran Khan has divided the nation," he said.
Newsletter

Related Articles

Saudi Press
0:00
0:00
Close
Lebanon Inaugurates New Government with Hezbollah's Impact on Important Ministries
Report: Iran Attempted to Assassinate Trump During Election Campaign
Saudi Pavilion Reports High Visitor Turnout at Cairo International Book Fair 2025
Saudi Expat Remittances Jump 14% in 2024, Reaching SR144 Billion
Saudi Minister Highlights Population Aging as Opportunity at Global Healthspan Summit 2025
SFDA Proposes Revised Fines for Food Facilities in Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia Declares February Twenty-Two as Founding Day Holiday for Private and Non-Profit Sectors
Saudi Air Force Commander Oversees Conclusion of Ramah Al-Nasr 2025 Exercise and Inaugurates Air Warfare Center Expansion
Saudi KSRelief Launches Volunteer Initiative, Performs 49 Surgeries in Damascus
Interior Minister Inaugurates Azm Center for Psychological and Social Empowerment in Riyadh
Al Nassr Reclaims Third Place with 3-0 Victory Over Al Fayha
Saudi Arabia Opens Hajj 1446 Registration for Domestic Pilgrims
U.S. Authorizes $7.4 Billion Arms Deal with Israel
Iran's Supreme Leader Rejects U.S. Nuclear Negotiations.
Israel to Snub UN Human Rights Council due to Allegations of Anti-Semitism
EU Declares Gaza Essential to Future Palestinian State in Light of Trump Proposal
Iranian Currency Reaches All-Time Low Amid US 'Maximum Pressure' Strategy
Trump's Suggestion to 'Seize Control' of Gaza Signifies a Significant Shift in US Policy
Chalhoub Group Expands Saudi Operations with New Fulfillment Hub and Luxury Store
Panda Retail to Open Over 20 New Stores in Saudi Arabia in 2025
Saudi Arabia’s Retail Market Driven by Youth, Digital Growth, and Evolving Consumer Preferences
Apparel Group Expands Presence in Saudi Arabia’s Retail Sector
Saudi Venture Capital Co. Commits $1bn to Boost Kingdom's VC Ecosystem
Riyadh Airport Set for Major Retail Expansion to Enhance Passenger Experience
Oil Prices Decline Amid Rising US Crude Inventories and Trade Tensions
UAE's Non-Oil Private Sector Maintains Robust Growth in January
RASM Explores International Partnerships to Strengthen Saudi Real Estate Market Position
Middle East Sees 52% Surge in M&A Activity, Reaching $29 Billion in 2024
Azad Properties and NHC Collaborate on Souq7 Riyadh Development
GCC Grocery Retailers Embrace Value-Led Strategies Amid Intensifying Competition
Al Hilal Reclaims Top Spot in AFC Champions League Elite with 4-1 Win Over Persepolis
SRMG Think Hosts High-Level Discussion on IMF's Latest GCC Economic Report in Riyadh
PetroRent Joint Venture Set to Transform Car Rental and Leasing Services in Saudi Arabia
Naif Alrajhi Investment Launches Saudi Arabia’s First International Media Representation Services Company
Takamol Holding to Present Technological Solutions at LEAP 2025 in Riyadh
Trump Suggests U.S. 'Takeover' of Gaza, Prompting Global Concerns
Trump Administration Preparing Executive Order to Abolish Department of Education
Trump's Gaza Plan Provokes Global Debate
Seven Saudi Hospitals Rank Among World's Top 250 for 2025
Saudi Arabia Reaffirms Commitment to Palestinian Statehood, Rejects Political Bargaining
Saudi Arabia to Showcase 'The Um Slaim School' at Venice Architecture Biennale 2025
Two Arrested in Dammam After Smuggling Attempt of 11 Million Drug Pills Foiled
Makkah Deputy Emir Inaugurates 179 Educational Projects in Makkah and Jeddah
Riyadh Season Hosts Mass Wedding for 300 Couples
Saudi Health Ministry Summons Individual for Spreading Misinformation on Ginger and Strokes
Jordan's King Abdullah and Saudi Crown Prince Discuss Regional Developments
President Trump Suggests Moving Gaza's Palestinian Residents
Saudi Fund for Development Signs $1.2 Billion Financing Deal with Pakistan for Oil Imports
Saudi Arabia Issues Penalties Against 18,838 Violators of Residency and Work Regulations
GACA Opens Domestic Market to Foreign Operators for Charter Flights
×