Pakistani police free the leader of former premier Khan's opposition party

Thousands of supporters of Pakistan's imprisoned former Prime Minister Imran... — Thousands of supporters of Pakistan's imprisoned former Prime Minister Imran Khan's party participate in a rally demanding his release from prison where he has been held for more than a year after being sentenced in multiple cases, on the outskirts of the capital, Islamabad, Pakistan, Sunday, Sept. 8, 2024. Credit: AP/W. K. Yousufzai

By The Associated PressUpdated September 10, 2024

ISLAMABAD — Pakistani police on Tuesday freed the president of the opposition party of former Prime Minister Imran Khan, a day after he was detained outside parliament on a charge of allegedly inciting violence, his party said.

Islamabad police in a statement confirmed the release of Gohar Khan, who is not related to the former premier. He was arrested along with several other leaders of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party as they demanded Imran Khan's release from prison.

After his release, Khan, who is also a lawmaker, called the arrests an attack on parliament. He asked the National Assembly speaker to investigate.

Party spokesperson Zulfi Bukhari said 12 others were still in police custody.

PTI's top leadership denounced the arrests, vowing their campaign would continue until the former premier Khan's release.

The former prime minister was imprisoned last year after his conviction in a graft case. He remains a popular figure despite his ouster in a no-confidence vote in 2022.