• The Islamabad High Court on Tuesday suspended a lower court's corruption charges against Pakistan's ex-PM Imran Khan — which would have seen him imprisoned for three years — though it isn't yet clear whether he will be immediately released as he is currently facing a myriad of other charges. The Telegraph
• The result means that Khan, 70, will be eligible as a candidate in the upcoming parliamentary elections. The High Court also granted the politician bail, though he will face retrial over allegations he concealed assets gained through the sale of state gifts while in office. The Times of Israel
• This follows a separate sedition case against Khan that was dismissed on Monday, after a court ruled that the charges were "without lawful authority and are of no legal effect" as they weren't supported by the consent of the federal or provincial government. Reuters (LR: 3 CP: 5)
• While government officials can keep extravagant items by paying a reduced fee, a trial court found that Khan misused his premiership to buy gifts at throwaway rates and sell them off in the open market for massive profits. News
• Before being arrested and sentenced, Khan had managed to remain free for months, despite police efforts to keep him in custody. Protests in Pakistan, some of which were violent, were sparked when he was briefly arrested in May this year. BBC News
• Beyond the sedition and corruption cases, the septuagenarian cricketer-turned-politician faces additional charges ranging from terrorism to the incitement of assaults on state institutions. Aaj English TV

Narrative A:

• Imran Khan and other leaders of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party — who are being deprived of their constitutional rights — should have long been released from custody as there's no legal cause to keep them behind bars. The Islamabad High Court's decision is, at least, a positive step for Khan, who continues to face politically motivated efforts to keep him out of politics.
  The Friday Times

Narrative B:

• These regrettable legal developments have come amid pressure on Pakistani judges from Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandial, who has put his reputation on the line to protect Khan in his legal cases. Though outrageous, this support, sadly, isn't surprising, as the superior judiciary has long chosen to align with the former Prime Minister despite strong evidence of his wrongdoing.
  GEO