A United Nations panel termed the charges against former premier Imran Khan politically motivated to sideline him from politics and sought his immediate release, saying he was detained on politically motivated grounds. The UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention issued its opinion during its 99th session in Geneva. It described Khan's detention and prosecution in corruption cases as lacking any legal justification and seeking to prevent his political participation.
“The working group concludes that his detention had no legal basis and appears to have been intended to disqualify him from running for political office. Thus, from the outset, that prosecution was not grounded in law and was reportedly instrumentalised for a political purpose,” it said.
The UN working group has expressed legal discrepancies with respect to the cipher case and other charges, and expressed 'concern regarding certain measures aimed at curtailing Khan's electoral prospects, which run counter to the freedom of assembly and political rights of Mr. Khan.'
The WG, in this regard, recommended that the Government of Pakistan immediately release him and provide compensation against arbitrary detention, while instituting an independent investigation into the violation of his rights for good measure.
Reacting to the opinion expressed by the UN, reports termed it a significant development in Khan's legal battle.
