PML-N fumes over Imran Khan's release, urges CJP Bandial to join PTI.

As soon as the Supreme Court ordered former prime minister Imran Khan's immediate release, the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leaders fired a broadside at the country's top judge for granting relief to the PTI chief in a graft case.

In a major relief for the deposed premier, the apex court on Thursday declared his arrest illegal and ordered authorities to release him 'immediately'.

A three-member bench - headed by CJP Bandial and comprising Justice Athar Minallah and Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar - issued the verdict on PTI's petition challenging Khan's arrest.

Reacting to the verdict, PML-N Chief Organiser Maryam Nawaz criticised Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandial, asking him to step down from the post and join the opposition party - PTI.

'The chief justice was very happy today to meet the criminal who plundered Rs60 billion from the national exchequer and he [CJP] was even more happy to release this criminal,' the PML-N leader said while referring to the CJP remarks during the hearing.

The key party of the ruling alliance of the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) - a group of 13 political parties -...