Live Updates | Imran Khan Arrest: Pakistan Supreme Court Orders Immediate Release Of PTI Chief

PTI workers distribute sweets at Zaman Park

The workers of Imran Khan's party, PTI, have been distributing sweets at the residence of former prime minister Imran Khan in Zaman Park shortly after the Supreme Court termed his arrest “illegal”.

Pakistan Political Crisis: Emergency Soon? 

Proclamation of emergency in Pakistan`s violence-hit Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provinces remains an option if the ongoing unrest further escalates, the media reported. The Constitution of Pakistan provides for such a situation if internal disturbance goes beyond the power of a provincial government, according to The News report. The Article 232 of the Constitution provides for the proclamation of emergency. It envisages if the President is satisfied that a grave emergency exists in which the security of Pakistan, or any part thereof, is threatened by war or external aggression, or by internal disturbance beyond the power of a provincial government to control, he may issue a proclamation of emergency. In such a situation, the President is bound to act on the advice of the Prime Minister. However, for the imposition of an emergency due to internal disturbances beyond the powers of a provincial government to control, a resolution from the provincial assembly shall be required.

Watch: PTI Chief Imran Khan walks to court

A video released by Imran Khan's party PTI shows him walking to courtroom no 1, with his security personnel escorting him.

PTI Chairman @ImranKhanPTI in Supreme Court today. His arrest has been declared illegal. pic.twitter.com/ewwwIRfqaz

— PTI (@PTIofficial) May 11, 2023

SC orders Imran’s immediate release

The Supreme Court has ordered Imran Khan’s immediate release.

The court also observed that whatever the IHC decides, Imran will have to abide by.

Massive Security Force Presence Outside SC As Imran Khan Set To Appear For Summons

Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Umar, Ata Bandial, today directed the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) to produce PTI Chairman Imran Khan in court. Following the court direction, the security outside the Supreme Court has been beefed to avoid any untoward incident. As per DawnNewsTV, bomb disposal squad and additional police and Rangers personnel have been called outside court complex.

PTI’s Ali Muhammad Khan and Ejaz Chaudhry arrested 

PTI leaders Ali Muhammad Khan and EJaz Chaudhry have been arrested from Islamabad, DawnNewsTV reported.

Protest in Bradford, UK to raise voice against the illegal detention of @ImranKhanPTI - #PakistanUnderFascism #ReleaseImranKhan pic.twitter.com/Mw5DRGkjlA

— Pakistan First (@Pakistan1irst) May 10, 2023

Imran Khan's Arrest Countempt Of Court: Pak Chief Justice

Chief Justice Bandial also at point observed that the National Accountability Bureau had committed 'contempt of court'. "They should have taken permission from the court's registrar before the arrest. Court staffers were also subjected to abuse," he said.

Produce Imran Khan In Court Within An Hour: Pakistan Supreme Court

Pakistan's Supreme Court on Thursday ordered the anti-corruption watchdog to produce former prime minister Imran Khan within an hour as it observed that the agency committed "contempt of court" by entering the court premises and arresting him without permission from the court's registrar. The directive was issued by a three-member bench, comprising Chief Justice of Pakistan Umar Ata Bandial, Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar and Justice Athar Minallah, which heard Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf chairman's plea against his arrest in the Al-Qadir Trust case on Tuesday. The bench during the hearing expressed anger at the way 70-year-old Khan was arrested from the premises of the Islamabad High Court where he had come from Lahore for a case. The bench directed NAB to produce Khan by 4:30 pm (local time) when the court would reconvene.