Pakistan Court Orders Release Of Former PM Imran Khan On Guarantee

Imran Khan. (Wikimedia Commons/The White House)

JAKARTA - A Pakistani court ordered the release of former Prime Minister Imran Khan on a two-week guarantee, his lawyer said on Friday, after his arrest in a land fraud case sparked deadly protests and disputes with the military.

The arrest, which was ruled by the Supreme Court as "unauthorized and unlawful" the day before, has sparked instability in this country of 220 million at a time of economic crisis, with record inflation, poor economic growth, while the IMF is delaying its funding program.

Khan welcomed the court's order, saying the judiciary was Pakistan's only protection of "the jungle law".

"I have to say that I expect this from our judiciary, because the only hope that remains - the only line between banana republics and democracy is a judiciary," he told reporters at the court building.

"If not, there is no rule of law here. This is a complete jungle law. Strength is a right, you can be arrested," Khan continued.

Khan is expected to leave the court soon, broadcaster ARY news reported, with Pakistani party officials Tereek-e-Insaaf (PTI) expecting him to deliver a speech following his release.

Earlier, Khan entered court on Friday wearing glasses and a sky blue shalwar kameez - a loose shirt and Pakistan-popular trousers - as well as a dark vest, surrounded by lawyers and security officers, according to television shows.

He was seen on the tape waving at the camera and making a winning sign with his finger as he walked to court. Meanwhile, his supporters clashed with police elsewhere in the capital, where a police van was set on fire, geo TV television station reported.

After a court order was announced, Home Affairs Minister Rana Sanaullah said: "We have instructed our troops out there, the court order must be complied with and no violations of the court's decision".

His supporters have stormed military headquarters, set fire to state broadcast buildings, destroyed buses, searched the homes of a top army official and attacked other assets, leading to nearly 2.000 people being arrested and soldiers deployed to help.

"The Islamabad High Court has guaranteed for two weeks and also ordered (anti-corruption agency) not to detain Imran Khan during this period," his lawyer, Faisal Chaudhry, told Reuters.

It is known that protests broke out in various cities in Pakistan following his arrest by anti-corruption agencies in a land fraud case on Tuesday. Khan denies any wrongdoing.