(Web Desk) — Social media is abuzz with rumors claiming that the United Nations has demanded Pakistan to release former Prime Minister Imran Khan, citing all charges against him as illegal. However, the reality differs significantly.
The United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention has recently declared that Imran Khan’s detention and prosecution in cases related to the Toshakhana and cipher issues were “without legal basis” and politically motivated to exclude him from political participation.
Following this development, social media users misinterpreted the UN’s stance, spreading rumors that the organization had called for Imran Khan’s immediate release.
The UN body rendered its opinion during its 99th session held from March 18-27, as disclosed in a document dated June 18. Highlighting numerous legal inconsistencies and irregularities in the court proceedings against Imran Khan, the working group scrutinized whether his detention was arbitrary.
In its assessment, the working group concluded that Imran Khan’s detention lacked a legal foundation and appeared designed to prevent him from seeking political office. This conclusion was supported by detailed and unchallenged submissions highlighting the unlawful nature of the proceedings in the Toshakhana case and the broader political context targeting Imran Khan and his party.
The working group expressed particular concern over Imran Khan’s conviction in the Toshakhana case, especially the summary judgment delivered in absentia. It also criticized the manner of his subsequent arrest, which involved law enforcement personnel forcibly entering his residence and reportedly assaulting him and his staff, further complicating the legal issues surrounding his detention.
Regarding the cipher case, the UN body noted that the prosecution lacked a solid legal basis, as the actions in question did not seem to violate the Official Secrets Act, a conclusion supported by intelligence service assessments and unrebutted submissions.
In summary, while the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention has criticized Imran Khan’s detention as politically motivated and lacking legal grounds, it has not explicitly demanded his immediate release, contrary to the rumors circulating on social media.
