The United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention has condemned the imprisonment of former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan, stating that his detention violates international law.

In an opinion issued from Geneva on Monday, the UN working group declared that Imran Khan's imprisonment lacks legal basis and appears to be aimed at preventing him from participating in politics. The group emphasized that the appropriate action should be his immediate release and the provision of compensation and other reparations under international law.

According to the opinion, dated March 25 but publicly released on Monday, the legal actions against Khan were part of a broader campaign of repression targeting him and his Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party. The group cited arrests, alleged torture of party members, disruption of rallies, and accusations of election fraud during the 2024 general elections as evidence of political persecution.

Imran Khan, 71, has been embroiled in over 200 legal cases since his removal as prime minister in April 2022 and has been in custody since August last year. He has consistently claimed that these cases are politically motivated maneuvers orchestrated by his opponents to sideline him from power.

The Pakistani government has yet to respond to the UN working group's opinion, while the country's election commission denies allegations of election rigging in February. (ILKHA)