Islamabad High Court grants bail to Imran Khan for two weeks

A high court in Islamabad has granted former Prime Minister Imran Khan a two-week reprieve from arrest in a graft case and granted him bail on the charges.

Babar Awan, the lawyer for Khan, says the court made the decision on Friday, a day after the country's Supreme Court asked it a ruling. He says Khan is now "a free man,” and that the decision was just.

The ruling came after Khan returned to court to hear whether he will be shielded from renewed arrest or taken back into custody - a decision that put the government and legions of Khan supporters on edge after days of violent confrontations.

Imran Khan returned to court Friday to hear whether he will be shielded from renewed arrest or taken back into custody - a decision that put the government and legions of Khan supporters on edge after days of violent confrontations.

The popular 70-year-old opposition leader appeared before the same court from which he was dragged and arrested on Tuesday. The arrest triggered nationwide protests in which his supporters attacked military installations, burned vehicles, and ambulances and looted general stores in various parts of the country. The government responded with a crackdown, arresting nearly 3,000 people.

Friday’s court session is part of a series of complex legal manoeuvres.

On Thursday, Pakistan’s Supreme Court declared that Khan’s arrest was unlawful, but then asked the Islamabad High Court - a lower court - to reconsider its initial decision to uphold the arrest.

The Supreme Court said it would respect whatever the Islamabad court rules on Friday.

In an initial brief session of the Islamabad court Friday, the judges heard a request by Khan seeking protection from arrest on the graft charges. As Khan's supporters in the courtroom chanted, the judge adjourned the session for two hours. Outside, other supporters set fire to a police vehicle when security forces prevented them from approaching the court building.