UN panel calls Imran Khan’s detention arbitrary and demands his release

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy A UN human rights panel has called for the immediate release of former Pakistan prime minister Imran Khan, saying he has been detained “arbitrarily in violation of international laws”. In an opinion published on Monday, the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention noted that Mr Khan’s detention had “no legal basis and appears to have been intended to disqualify him from running for office”. “We welcome the Working Group’s opinion with hope and optimism as we call on the international community to continue holding the government of Pakistan accountable for the inexcusable miscarriage of justice Mr Khan, his wife and many PTI members have suffered,” he said in a statement on Monday. “The international condemnation of the manner in which the government of Pakistan illegally stripped Mr Khan of his freedom and rights has echoed from the US to the UN, with the House of Representatives and now the Working Group shining a light on it as a blatant effort to interfere with his intentions to run for political office.” The Working Group published its opinion in response to a petition by London-based law firm Harbottle & Lewis and Washington-based Perseus Strategies.