Pakistan’s Supreme Court has ruled the arrest of former Prime Minister Imran Khan to be illegal and ordered that he be immediately released, two days after his detention on corruption allegations triggered violent protests.
After the ruling on Thursday, violence around the country appeared to ease, though clashes between celebrating supporters of Khan and police briefly broke out near the Supreme Court building.
The government, however, denounced the ruling and said it was determined to find other legal avenues to arrest the leader of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party.
PTI supporters have clashed with police around the country, and people have attacked military and government sites, trying to storm the military’s main headquarters and burning down the residence of a top general in Lahore.
More than 2,000 people have been arrested, at least 11 others killed and dozens injured in the clashes.
