Pakistan's top court has said the anti-corruption agency's arrest of former prime minister Imran Khan was illegal.
Mr Khan was dragged from the Islamabad High Court on Tuesday during a hearing on another matter, and a court later ruled he could be detained for eight days. But on Thursday the arrest was ruled illegal by the Supreme Court and his immediate release ordered.
Footage from outside the court showed Mr Khan leaving in a blue shirt and sunglasses before climing into a black Mercedes. He will remain in the custody of the court under supervision of the police until another scheduled court appearance on Friday.
"Your arrest was invalid so the whole process needs to be backtracked," Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandial told Mr Khan at the hearing in the capital Islamabad.
"What we propose is that Islamabad police need to provide security, and he (Mr Khan) will provide a list of his immediate family members and lawyers that should meet him at police lines headquarters," said Judge Bandial.
He added that the headquarters, where Khan was taken into custody following his arrest, should instead be treated as a "residence".
Mr Bandial denied Mr Khan's request to return to his farm house on the outskirts of Islamabad.
"The court has ordered that he will remain in the custody of the Supreme Court of Pakistan and that he can meet and consult his friends and lawyers during his stay there," Khan's lawyer, Babar Awan, told reporters.
The former cricketer apologised to the Supreme Court for the disruption caused by widespread protests against his detention, and said party members and supporters would remain peaceful from now.
He said he had been struck with sticks when being arrested by the National Accountability Bureau on Tuesday, a claim not responded to by security forces. Demonstrations against his arrest have so far killed 10 people.
Senior leaders from Mr Khan's party were also arrested overnight as the government called in the military to end widespread protests.
Authorities arrested Shah Mahmood Qureshi, a former foreign minister and vice chairman of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party, early on Thursday, he said on Twitter.
Two other senior PTI leaders, Asad Umar and Fawad Chaudhry, were arrested on Wednesday, the latter from outside the Supreme Court minutes after he spoke to reporters.
Tensions remained high in the nuclear-armed nation with paramilitary troops and police on the streets in major cities on Thursday.
Mobile data services remained suspended and schools and offices were closed in two of Pakistan's four provinces.
Islamabad police said on early on Thursday that troops had reached the capital city.
Protesters have stormed military buildings, ransacked the residence of a top army general in the eastern city of Lahore and set state buildings on fire since Mr Khan's arrest.
At least five people have died in the violence that has further destabilised the South Asian country of 220 million people as it grapples with a severe economic crisis, eroding hopes of the quick resumption of an International Monetary Fund bailout.
“Such a spectacle has never been witnessed in the last 75 years,” Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said.
“People were made hostages in their vehicles, patients were taken out of the ambulances and later, those vehicles were torched”.
“There is a very real propaganda campaign against PTI, attempting to position us as violent creators of terror,” Mr Qureshi said on Twitter.
“The nation must continue with peaceful protests wherever they can”.
The corruption cases against Mr Khan are two of more than 100 cases registered against him since his removal from power in April last year after losing a confidence vote.
Mr Khan faces being barred from holding public office if convicted, with a national election scheduled for November.
He had not slowed his campaign against losing power despite being wounded in a November attack on his convoy as he led a protest march to Islamabad calling for a snap general election.
The Settlers
Director: Louis Theroux
Starring: Daniella Weiss, Ari Abramowitz
Rating: 5/5
Company Profile
Name: Thndr
Started: 2019
Co-founders: Ahmad Hammouda and Seif Amr
Sector: FinTech
Headquarters: Egypt
UAE base: Hub71, Abu Dhabi
Current number of staff: More than 150
Funds raised: $22 million
What is blockchain?
Blockchain is a form of distributed ledger technology, a digital system in which data is recorded across multiple places at the same time. Unlike traditional databases, DLTs have no central administrator or centralised data storage. They are transparent because the data is visible and, because they are automatically replicated and impossible to be tampered with, they are secure.
The main difference between blockchain and other forms of DLT is the way data is stored as ‘blocks’ – new transactions are added to the existing ‘chain’ of past transactions, hence the name ‘blockchain’. It is impossible to delete or modify information on the chain due to the replication of blocks across various locations.
Blockchain is mostly associated with cryptocurrency Bitcoin. Due to the inability to tamper with transactions, advocates say this makes the currency more secure and safer than traditional systems. It is maintained by a network of people referred to as ‘miners’, who receive rewards for solving complex mathematical equations that enable transactions to go through.
However, one of the major problems that has come to light has been the presence of illicit material buried in the Bitcoin blockchain, linking it to the dark web.
Other blockchain platforms can offer things like smart contracts, which are automatically implemented when specific conditions from all interested parties are reached, cutting the time involved and the risk of mistakes. Another use could be storing medical records, as patients can be confident their information cannot be changed. The technology can also be used in supply chains, voting and has the potential to used for storing property records.
The view from The National
Getting there
Flydubai flies direct from Dubai to Tbilisi from Dh1,025 return including taxes
BRAZIL SQUAD
Alisson (Liverpool), Daniel Fuzato (Roma), Ederson (Man City); Alex Sandro (Juventus), Danilo (Juventus), Eder Militao (Real Madrid), Emerson (Real Betis), Felipe (Atletico Madrid), Marquinhos (PSG), Renan Lodi (Atletico Madrid), Thiago Silva (PSG); Arthur (Barcelona), Casemiro (Real Madrid), Douglas Luiz (Aston Villa), Fabinho (Liverpool), Lucas Paqueta (AC Milan), Philippe Coutinho (Bayern Munich); David Neres (Ajax), Gabriel Jesus (Man City), Richarlison (Everton), Roberto Firmino (Liverpool), Rodrygo (Real Madrid), Willian (Chelsea).
The Sand Castle
Director: Matty Brown
Stars: Nadine Labaki, Ziad Bakri, Zain Al Rafeea, Riman Al Rafeea
Rating: 2.5/5
Global state-owned investor ranking by size
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1.
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United States
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2.
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China
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3.
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UAE
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4.
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Japan
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5
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Norway
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6.
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Canada
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7.
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Singapore
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Australia
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Saudi Arabia
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South Korea
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UAE%20athletes%20heading%20to%20Paris%202024
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Labour dispute
The insured employee may still file an ILOE claim even if a labour dispute is ongoing post termination, but the insurer may suspend or reject payment, until the courts resolve the dispute, especially if the reason for termination is contested. The outcome of the labour court proceedings can directly affect eligibility.
- Abdullah Ishnaneh, Partner, BSA Law
Wenger's Arsenal reign in numbers
1,228 - games at the helm, ahead of Sunday's Premier League fixture against West Ham United.
704 - wins to date as Arsenal manager.
3 - Premier League title wins, the last during an unbeaten Invincibles campaign of 2003/04.
1,549 - goals scored in Premier League matches by Wenger's teams.
10 - major trophies won.
473 - Premier League victories.
7 - FA Cup triumphs, with three of those having come the last four seasons.
151 - Premier League losses.
21 - full seasons in charge.
49 - games unbeaten in the Premier League from May 2003 to October 2004.
Profile of Udrive
Date started: March 2016
Founder: Hasib Khan
Based: Dubai
Employees: 40
Amount raised (to date): $3.25m – $750,000 seed funding in 2017 and a Seed round of $2.5m last year. Raised $1.3m from Eureeca investors in January 2021 as part of a Series A round with a $5m target.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
More from Rashmee Roshan Lall
In numbers: China in Dubai
The number of Chinese people living in Dubai: An estimated 200,000
Number of Chinese people in International City: Almost 50,000
Daily visitors to Dragon Mart in 2018/19: 120,000
Daily visitors to Dragon Mart in 2010: 20,000
Percentage increase in visitors in eight years: 500 per cent
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
It
Director: Andres Muschietti
Starring: Bill Skarsgard, Jaeden Lieberher, Sophia Lillis, Chosen Jacobs, Jeremy Ray Taylor
Three stars
RESULTS
6pm: Mazrat Al Ruwayah – Group 2 (PA) $40,000 (Dirt) 1,600m
Winner: AF Alajaj, Tadhg O’Shea (jockey), Ernst Oertel (trainer)
6.35pm: Race of Future – Handicap (TB) $80,000 (Turf) 2,410m
Winner: Global Storm, William Buick, Charlie Appleby
7.10pm: UAE 2000 Guineas – Group 3 (TB) $150,000 (D) 1,600m
Winner: Azure Coast, Antonio Fresu, Pavel Vashchenko
7.45pm: Business Bay Challenge – Listed (TB) $100,000 (T) 1,400m
Winner: Storm Damage, Patrick Cosgrave, Saeed bin Suroor
20.20pm: Curlin Stakes – Listed (TB) $100,000 (D) 2,000m
Winner: Appreciated, Fernando Jara, Doug O’Neill
8.55pm: Singspiel Stakes – Group 2 (TB) $180,000 (T) 1,800m
Winner: Lord Glitters, Daniel Tudhope, David O'Meara
9.30pm: Al Shindagha Sprint – Group 3 (TB) $150,000 (D) 1,200m
Winner: Meraas, Antonio Fresu, Musabah Al Muhairi
Company%C2%A0profile
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Muslim Council of Elders condemns terrorism on religious sites
The Muslim Council of Elders has strongly condemned the criminal attacks on religious sites in Britain.
It firmly rejected “acts of terrorism, which constitute a flagrant violation of the sanctity of houses of worship”.
“Attacking places of worship is a form of terrorism and extremism that threatens peace and stability within societies,” it said.
The council also warned against the rise of hate speech, racism, extremism and Islamophobia. It urged the international community to join efforts to promote tolerance and peaceful coexistence.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
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The five pillars of Islam
1. Fasting
2. Prayer
3. Hajj
4. Shahada
5. Zakat
The%20specs
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Turkish Ladies
Various artists, Sony Music Turkey
