Pakistan’s former prime minister Imran Khan has been granted bail by the Islamabad High Court.
The Islamabad High Court has granted bail to Imran Khan, Pakistan’s former prime minister, following his recent arrest over corruption charges. The arrest sparked widespread anger against the country’s military, and Khan left the court under police protection to return to Lahore. Despite a court order barring authorities from arresting him until Monday, Khan predicted that he could be arrested again, this time outside the High Court. He urged his followers to remain peaceful and not to break the law. The ex-leader was granted a two-week temporary release on bail, following a petition by his party to challenge the illegal land acquisition charges against him. In court, Khan accused the country’s army chief of taking action against him, and also revealed that arrest warrants had been issued for his wife. Early on Saturday, gunshots were heard near the court, and police have made two arrests and are investigating the incident. Khan’s ousting in a parliamentary no-confidence vote last year has fueled his campaign against the current government led by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. Khan has accused the government of colluding with senior military leaders to remove him from office and keep him out of politics. He has also made allegations that the government conspired with the United States to remove him from office, claims that both parties have denied.However, the army has previously rejected Khan’s claims that it had anything to do with past attempts on his life. Despite the controversy surrounding his arrest, Khan’s bail has provided him with a temporary reprieve, and it remains to be seen what his next move will be. The situation in Pakistan is tense, and the recent gunshots near the court have added to the uncertainty.
The aftermath of Khan’s arrest saw unprecedented scenes of defiance, with crowds breaking into military properties and setting homes of army personnel ablaze. This direct challenge to the usually untouchable force that has long sat at the apex of power in Pakistan has alarmed the government, which has responded by blocking mobile internet services. This move was aimed at quelling the chaos but has also disrupted access to social media platforms like Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube, as well as key delivery apps and even digital payment platforms.
The situation has resulted in at least eight deaths and hundreds of arrests nationwide, according to officials. Police have also arrested several senior leaders of Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party for “inciting arson and violent protests.”
The crisis has come at a time when Pakistan is grappling with an acute economic crisis, as soaring inflation leaves people unable to afford food and fuel. This has heightened fears about the country’s stability, especially since it is an election year for Pakistan. The combination of political turmoil, economic instability, and social unrest has left the country on edge, and many are calling for calm and a peaceful resolution to the current crisis.