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Pakistani court releases former PM on bail — TV

It is specified that his bail was approved for two weeks

ISLAMABAD, May 12. /TASS/. Islamabad’s High Court has released former Pakistani prime minster and opposition leader Imran Khan on bail for two weeks, the ARY News TV channel reported on Friday.

"The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Friday granted bail to former Prime Minister Imran Khan in the Al-Qadir Trust case, a day after the Supreme Court ruled his arrest ‘unlawful’," a statement on the ARY News website said. It is specified that his bail was approved for two weeks.

Khan was brought to the court hearing at the IHC amid tight security, Pakistan’s Dawn newspaper reported on Friday. The former prime minister pleaded the jury of judges for bail and promised to reappear at the courtroom for the next hearing as soon as he is required.

On Thursday, the Supreme Court termed the politician’s arrest "invalid and unlawful." Pakistani ministers protested against the decision.

Khan was arrested in Islamabad on May 9, which immediately sparked rallies from his supporters. He is being accused of corruption and using his foundation and spouse to launder money. The former prime minister is suspected of receiving "billions of rupees" from an unnamed real estate company for legalizing 50 bln rupees (about $175.5 mln) wired from the UK when Khan was the head of government.

Xinhua reported on Thursday that at least 10 people were killed with more than 1,750 people being injured in the unrest. Police have detained over 1,000 supporters of the ex-PM’s party, Pakistan Movement for Justice. Defense Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif warned that an emergency may be declared in the country.

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