UN: Ex-Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan Arbitrarily Detained

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The Facts

  • Former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan is arbitrarily imprisoned in violation of international law, the UN's Working Group on Arbitrary Detention (WGAD) said in a report published Monday.

  • The 17-page report detailed how, following a series of arrests, Khan — who led the country between 2018 and 2022 — was routinely denied due process rights in his legal battle, alleging his detention was politically motivated.

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The Spin

Narrative A

The ongoing imprisonment of Imran Khan has no legal basis. His prosecution of several offenses lacked a legal basis and was carried out to keep him and his Tehreek-e-Insaf party out of power. He needs to be released immediately and given reparations for his persecution by the current Pakistani government.

Al Jazeera

Narrative B

Given how corrupt the current Pakistani leadership is, there's less than a 1% chance Imran Khan will be getting out of prison anytime soon. They know he is far more popular than any of them, and having him back on the streets would risk their current grip on power.

Pakistan Today

Metaculus Prediction