The Pakistan Supreme Court on Thursday declared the arrest of former Prime Minister Imran Khan “illegal” and called for the immediate release of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief who was arrested by the country anti-corruption watchdog on graft charges.

A three-judge bench consisting of Pakistan Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandial, Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar and Justice Athar Minallah, had ordered the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) –who had arrested Khan on Tuesday—to bring him before the country’s apex court.

Hearing Imran Khan’s plea for relief, the top court bench blasted the NAB for arresting the former Premier from the premises of the Islamabad High Court on Tuesday, where he had arrived to appear for a hearing in a case against him.

The bench asked the anti-corruption watchdog that it should return Imran Khan to the Islamabad HC and let the court decide his fate.

Chief Justice Bandial reprimanded the NAB for arresting Khan from the court premises without the permission of the registrar.

Justice Bandial asked why Khan was arrested by the NAB when he had already surrendered to the court…”then what does arresting them even mean?”

Imran Khan has alleged custodial torture by the NAB and said that the agency did not even let him use the washroom and also claimed that he was injected with something that would induce a slow heart attack.

Imran Khan, a cricketing legend and one of the most popular Prime Ministers Pakistan has witnessed in recent times, was arrested on Tuesday by the NAB.

Following Khan’s arrest, violent protests erupted across Pakistan as the PTI supremo’s supporters hit the streets and clashed with the police and the Army.

In Lahore, rapid supporters of the former Pakistan cricket team captain–  who remains wildly popular among a portion of the country’s population despite being ousted from power— set ablaze the home of Pakistan Army’s corps commander while in Rawalpindi, the protesters laid siege to the army general’s headquarters.

Khan’s supporters have threatened to intensify protests across the country if the PTI chief is not released immediately.

Former president of the Janata Dal (United) RCP Singh joined the Bharatiya Janata Party in Delhi today in the presence of Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.

Singh after accepting his membership in the BJP slammed Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and alleged him of having the latter’s hand in crime and corruption in order to be in power.

Once a crony of Kumar, Singh’s ties with him seemed dwindling last year, when talks of Singh’s friendship with BJP hovered around, post which differences between both the leaders were seen and later JD(U) expelled Singh from the party.

The former JD(U) leader taking a swipe at his former mentor said that the Bihar CM in the pursuit of his post has compromised with his stand against crime and corruption. Singh added, that Kumar has been left with nothing in Bihar and mocked him saying he is a palti maar.

The new entrant in the BJP also praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his leadership and contribution towards up-liftment of the poor.

RCP Singh is a former bureaucrat of the Uttar Pradesh cadre who had worked under CM Kumar while he was an Union Minister. Kumar was the one who brought Singh into politics.

The former bureaucrat also served as the Union Minister of Steel in the Modi government, when JD(U) was a part of the National Democratic Alliance(NDA).

Read Also: Maharashtra political tussle: All you need to know about the Supreme Court verdict

Singh had to resign after the party did not provide him the Rajya Sabha membership for a fresh term last year.

The former cabinet minister also targeted Kumar for his recent efforts to forge an united opposition alliance. He said that Kumar who has been elected to power for the state’s development is busy travelling one state to another.

Bihar CM Kumar is on a move to unite the opposition against the ruling BJP in the polls ahead next year, he has been meeting leaders of various opposition parties since almost a month when he first held a meeting with Congress leaders Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi in Delhi and later with Arvind Kejriwal.

Kumar today has met with former Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray in his residence in Mumbai.

Meanwhile, Pradhan who welcomed Singh into the party lauded the latter for his role in strengthening the JD(U) and claimed that Singh ranks as one of the most affectionate leaders among the extremely backward sections of the society.

Delhi govt vs Centre: Elected government has power over services, L-G duty-bound to comply, says Supreme Court

Stalin govt files defamation suit against Tamil Nadu BJP chief

On Thursday, a constitution bench of the Supreme Court headed by Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud pronounced its verdict on the petitions filed by both Uddhav Thackeray faction and Eknath Shinde faction in regards to the rebellion by Shinde last year that resulted to split of Shiv Sena and him ruling the state allying with the BJP.

The bench along Justice Chandrachud included Justices MR Shah, Krishna Murari, Hima Kohli and PS Narasimha.

Here’s all you need to know about today’s verdict–

CJI said cannot quash resignation

CJI Chandrachud ruled the bench cannot quash the resignation of Uddhav Thackeray from the CM post as he did not face floor test, Status quo ante cannot be restored as Thackeray resigned.

CJI ruled that the erstwhile Maha Vikas Aghadi government in Maharashtra cannot be restored due to the resignation.

During the rebellion episode last year, the Shinde camp approached then Maharashtra Governor Bhagat Singh Koshiyari citing life threats after which Koshiyari asked Thackeray to call for a trust vote but just before it could take place, Thackeray resigned.

Read Also: Delhi govt vs Centre: Elected government has power over services, L-G duty-bound to comply, says Supreme Court

Bench on Governor’s role

The bench ruled that the Governor has no role to play in any intra party to inter party disputes and is not entitled to jump into political matters.

The bench also ruled that the Governor is ought not to act on the basis that some members want to leave a party (referring to action taken by Koshiyari when Shinde along other leaders wished to leave Shiv Sena expressing their dissatisfaction).

The bench in its verdict talking about the decision taken by Koshiyari to call for floor test, said he should not have done it relying on the security concerns raised by Shinde group and that he is ought not to take a decision on a letter that states that Thackeray has lost the majority.

The bench ruled that that Governor has no power in its hands to say that ruling government has lost the majority count.

On the speaker’s role of disqualification of MLAs

Chief Justice Chandrachud on the role of speaker in disqualification of MLAs said, the matter has been refereed to a larger bench.

The Shinde Camp last year raised a no-confidence motion against then deputy speaker of the house who issued disqualification notice to the rebel MLAs.

In a petition filed by Shinde faction, it raised questions over the power of a assembly Speaker to consider disqualification proceedings as the 2016 Nabam Rebia judgment of a five-judge bench pronounced a verdict that a Speaker cannot consider such proceedings if any no- confidence motions against him/her are pending before the House.

Stalin govt files defamation suit against Tamil Nadu BJP chief

Nearly a dozen army school shut down in Jammu after intel of terror attack, high alert issued