PAKISTAN’S Supreme Court ordered in a surprise ruling the release of former prime minister Imran Khan and one of his party deputies today.

Mr Khan, who is currently serving a three-year sentence in jail in a corruption case, won’t be immediately freed as he still faces two other charges.

Today’s ruling, which Mr Khan’s defence team viewed as a legal victory and a political boost, was issued over charges of the former premier revealing state secrets when he waved an allegedly confidential document, dubbed Cipher, last year at a rally following his removal from power. 

“The court’s order is proof enough that the charges against Khan and Shah Mahmood Qureshi were fabricated,” said Mr Khan’s lawyer Salman Safdar. 

Mr Qureshi is a senior vice-president of Mr Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party.

Pakistan’s government said that the Cipher document was diplomatic correspondence between the Pakistani ambassador to Washington and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Islamabad. 

Mr Khan confirmed the correspondence and insisted his ousting from office was a conspiracy by the United States, his successor Shehbaz Sharif and the Pakistani military.

They have all denied the accusation.

The Supreme Court judges ruled there wasn’t enough evidence that Mr Khan revealed official secrets while waving the document.

This came two days after his party announced that Mr Khan would run in the country’s upcoming parliamentary elections from prison. 

According to Pakistani election laws, Mr Khan can submit his nomination papers as his appeal against his conviction in the corruption case is yet to be decided on.

Analysts said the surprise development could help his party to win the elections which are to be held on February 8.

Mr Khan’s main political rival is Nawaz Sharif, a three-time former prime minister, who self-exiled and recently returned to Pakistan after having his own corruption charges overturned.