On Friday, an Islamabad high court granted former Prime Minister Imran Khan protection from arrest in a graft case. And ordered him to be released on bail.
The verdict came as the government and legions of Khan’s fans were on edge following days of deadly clashes precipitated by the former prime minister’s arrest earlier this week. The administration has sworn to find a means to re-arrest Khan, which would almost certainly result in rioting and mob violence.
The Islamabad High Court granted Khan protection from arrest in one of several corruption cases against him for two weeks on Friday. A type of interim bail that is regularly repeated in Pakistan’s court system.
On the other hand, Khan stayed in court following the judgement as his lawyers petitioned the courts for similar protection in several other corruption accusations. Attempting to close a legal route for the government to arrest him again.
Babar Awan, Khan’s chief counsel, applauded the decision and declared Khan “a free man.”
A short time later, the court ruled that Khan could not be arrested because of other pending corruption allegations against him. The former premier was scheduled to leave the courtroom shortly.
According to the authorities, Khan’s release rewards and encourages mob violence. Following his detention on Tuesday, fans assaulted military posts, burnt vehicles and ambulances, and looted general stores nationwide. The government retaliated by detaining roughly 3,000 people. At least ten Khan supporters were killed in the rioting. Several demonstrators and almost 200 police officers were hurt.
Agents from the National Accountability Bureau stormed into the Islamabad High Court on Tuesday. Khan was attending a session on additional charges. The same court where he appeared Friday took him away, placing him in an armoured vehicle.
On Thursday, Pakistan’s Supreme Court concluded that the arrest was illegal. But urged the Islamabad High Court, a lower court, to revisit its initial judgement to sustain the arrest.
