KARACHI: Pakistan’s law ministry said on Tuesday former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan’s legal challenges were an “internal matter” after a UN human rights group declared the ex-premier’s detention arbitrary and in violation of international law.

The Geneva-based UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention said in an opinion issued on Monday that the “appropriate remedy would be to release Mr. Khan immediately and accord him an enforceable right to compensation and other reparations, in accordance with international law.”

Khan, who is the founder of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party, has been in jail since last August and was convicted in some cases ahead of a national election in February. He is also fighting dozens of other cases which are continuing. Khan and his party say the charges were politically motivated to thwart his return to power.

“The arrest of founder PTI and the pending cases as an internal matter of Pakistan,” law minister Azam Nazeer Tarar said in a statement. “As a sovereign state in Pakistan, the constitution and prevailing laws are enforced by the courts.”

In recent months, Pakistani courts have suspended Khan’s jail sentences in two cases about the illegal acquisition and sale of state gifts, and also overturned his conviction on charges of leaking state secrets.

However, he has remained in prison due to a conviction in another case in which a trial court ruled that his 2018 marriage was unlawful. Khan also faces a trial under anti-terrorism charges in connection with violence in May last year.

“Founder PTI has all rights as per national constitution and law and international norms, he is in jail as a convicted prisoner,” Tarar’s statement said. “Relief to founder PTI in many cases is a reflection of a transparent and fair trial and judicial system. Any demand beyond the constitution, law and international norms will be called discriminatory, biased and unfair.”

Khan came to power in 2018 and was ousted in 2022 after what is widely believed to be a falling out with Pakistan’s powerful military. He alleged the US orchestrated his ouster in cahoots with the Pakistani military and his political rivals through a parliamentary no-confidence vote. All three deny the accusations.

Multiple legal cases were brought against Khan after he was ousted from the PM’s office and he was also disqualified as a candidate in February’s election.

Despite not running himself, candidates backed by Khan secured the highest number of seats, but the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) formed a fragile coalition government.

The US, Britain and the European Union expressed concern about reported irregularities in the elections and urged a probe while United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres expressed concern about violence and the suspension of mobile communications services during the elections.

With inputs from Reuters