Pakistan’s former prime minister Imran Khan has left the Islamabad High Court after being granted broad protection from arrest in multiple legal cases against him. The ruling came as a blow to the government, which had been seeking to arrest Khan on corruption charges. The decision sparked widespread unrest, with Khan’s supporters clashing with police and burning vehicles and buildings.
Khan, a charismatic 70-year-old former cricket star-turned-Islamist politician, is facing around 100 court cases, including charges of fomenting violence and corruption. His supporters are deeply loyal and view him as an outsider victimized by the military and political dynasties that have long run Pakistan. However, his opponents see him as a corrupt demagogue stirring his followers into violence.
Pakistan’s Former PM Imran Khan (Via Imran Khan/Twitter)
The Islamabad High Court granted Khan protection until Monday on a host of charges, including a graft case, and gave him bail in another case. According to his lawyers, Khan will head to his home in the eastern city of Lahore. Security was extremely tight around the court, with concerns for the former leader’s safety.
The government has expressed concerns that Khan’s release could exacerbate the political situation, but interior minister Rana Sanaullah Khan said the government will respect the court order. Meanwhile, opponents of Khan have accused the judiciary of being biased in favor of the former prime minister and have called for parliamentary supremacy to be ensured.
The stand-off between Khan and the government has echoes of the 2007 assassination of former prime minister Benazir Bhutto during an election rally, which saw widespread protests and violence across Pakistan. The situation has raised concerns about political instability and the threat it poses to the country.
