Dawood Ahmed:
ISLAMABAD:
The Supreme Court (SC) on Thursday evening declared the arrest of the former prime minister Imran Khan ‘unlawful’ and ordered his immediate release. The apex court also directed him to appear before the Islamabad High Court (IHC) tomorrow (Friday).
The top court said that the PTI chief would be kept at the Police Lines Guest House but would not be considered a prisoner, and directed the Islamabad police chief to ensure the ex-premier’s security.
Govt would have to guarantee Imran’s security: Umar Ata Bandial
“The government would have to guarantee Imran’s security,” Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Umar Ata Bandial directed.
The orders were issued as a three-judge bench comprising the CJP, Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar and Justice Athar Minallah resumed hearing Imran’s plea against his arrest. Earlier in the day, the court had directed the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) to present Imran before the court.
Subsequently, the PTI chief was presented in court amid tight security a little after 5:45pm. A reporter present at the scene said that the former prime minister was taken inside the SC via the judges’ gate.