The arrest came a day after the military through its media wing ISPR had responded negatively to Khan's accusations of a high-ranking ISI official being implicated in an assassination attempt on his life the previous year.[3] ISPR declared Khan's arrest to be legal;[4] however, the following day, the Supreme Court of Pakistan deemed the arrest unlawful and mandated Khan's immediate release.[5]
The next day on 12 May, Islamabad High Court granted two weeks bail to Khan. Shortly upon his release, Khan directly accused the army chief Asim Munir of playing a role in his arrest.[6]
Attempts to arrest Khan led to protests by his supporters throughout the country.[7][8]