The Supreme Court of Pakistan granted bail to former Prime Minister Imran Khan, ruling that there are no reasonable grounds, with currently available evidence, for believing that Khan wrongfully communicated confidential information but there are sufficient grounds for further inquiry.

Imran Khan is charged with wrongful communication of official confidential information under section 5 of the Official Secrets Act. The prosecution has alleged that Khan committed the offense by communicating the information contained in a secret classified diplomatic document from the United States to the public at large. The prosecution has accused Khan of twisting the facts for personal gain, prejudicing the interest of state security.

On the same day, the Supreme Court of Pakistan ordered the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) to resolve grievances relating to the absence of a fair and free process in the upcoming general election. The ECP then extended the nomination period for two days, claiming that the extension would facilitate the political parties and prospective candidates. Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI), Khan’s political party, has accused the government of refusing to accept the nomination paper of Intizar Hussain Panjotha, a member of Imran Khan’s legal team to run for the election. A member of Khan’s legal team also said that Khan would be disqualified from running for the upcoming election without the suspension of the ECP’s conviction of Khan for corruption charges. Khan said that keeping him in jail was part of the “London Plan” from the ruling government to crush the PTI.

In August, the Federal Investigation Agency arrested and detained the vice chairperson of the PTI, Shah Mahmood Qureshi, for wrongful communication of official confidential information.