UN Experts Deem Imran Khan's Detention Arbitrary, Call for Immediate Release

A panel of UN experts has declared the detention of former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan as arbitrary and in violation of international law, urging his immediate release. The United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention, in an opinion published Monday, expressed concerns over the numerous cases against Khan since his ousting in April 2022. The group determined that Khan’s detention lacked legal basis and appeared politically motivated.

The working group’s opinion, dated March 25 but released publicly on Monday, stated that Khan’s detention was intended to disqualify him from political office. "The prosecution was not grounded in law and was reportedly instrumentalized for a political purpose," the group noted. They called on Pakistan's government to take necessary steps to rectify the situation, including Khan’s immediate release and ensuring his right to compensation and reparations as per international law.

Why This Matters: The UN experts also urged a thorough and independent investigation into the arbitrary deprivation of Khan’s liberty and appropriate actions against those responsible for violating his rights.

Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party celebrated the ruling, describing it as a “huge victory.” PTI spokesman Syad Zulfiqar Bukhari stated, "It has shown without any doubt that Imran Khan is innocent and has been imprisoned illegally."

Since being ousted in 2022, Khan, who served as prime minister from 2018 to 2022, has faced over 200 legal cases, which he claims are part of a campaign to prevent his return to power. At 71, Khan has been detained since August of the previous year and barred from running for office. Despite having his 14-year prison sentences for graft suspended by a Pakistani high court in April, and a 10-year sentence for treason overturned last month, Khan remains in Adiala jail over an illegal marriage conviction.

Khan and his wife, Bushra Bibi, were sentenced to seven years in jail in February on charges that their marriage, under Islamic law, occurred too soon after Bibi’s divorce. An Islamabad court deferred a plea to suspend these sentences last week, with a decision expected on July 12.

Key Takeaways:

• UN declares Imran Khan's detention arbitrary and unlawful.
• Experts claim detention intended to disqualify Khan from politics.
• UN calls for immediate release and compensation for Khan.
• PTI party celebrates ruling as proof of Khan's innocence.
• Khan remains jailed despite overturning of multiple sentences.