Pakistan: Order to release more than 120 supporters of ex- PM Imran Khan

Pakistan court on Saturday ordered the release of more than 120 supporters of Imran Khan. All activists were taken into custody after violent protests erupted following the arrest of the former prime minister on 9 May.

The Lahore High Court has directed the government to release 123 workers of Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party without delay.

LHC Justice Anwarul Haq issued the order while hearing a petition filed by PTI leader Farooq Habib, Dawn newspaper reported. These activists arrested from Faisalabad are currently lodged in various jails of Punjab.

Corps Commander House set on fire

For the first time in Pakistan's history, protesters stormed the Army Headquarters (GHQ) in Rawalpindi and also set fire to the Corps Commander's House (Jinnah House) in Lahore.

Police put the death toll in the violent clashes at 10, while Khan's party claimed 40 of its workers were killed in firing by security personnel. Law enforcement agencies have arrested over 7,000 PTI activists across Pakistan, of which 4,000 are from Punjab.

More than 500 women are being searched

Punjab's Caretaker Chief Minister Mohsin Naqvi has said that the search is on for more than 500 women in about 138 cases related to the May 9 violence. In a statement, Naqvi emphasized that male officers have been instructed not to arrest women, but stressed the need to nab those who sabotage military installations at any cost.

Human Rights Watch (HRW) has urged the government to uphold human rights while prosecuting more than 4,000 people arrested in the wake of the violent protests. An anti-terrorism court here on May 19 granted pre-arrest bail to Imran Khan till June 2 in three terrorism cases