Pakistan high court takes up appeal by jailed Imran Khan

The 70-year-old Khan has been at the heart of political turmoil since he was ousted as prime minister in a vote of no-confidence last year, raising concern about Pakistan's stability as it grapples with an economic crisis.

He has been barred from holding any public office for five years after he began a three-year sentence on Saturday on charges of unlawfully selling state gifts acquired by him and his family during his 2018-2022 tenure.

"Imran Khan will be freed if his case is heard on merit," his lawyer Naeem Panjutha said.

He said the court had issued notices to concerned authorities to respond, but did not fix a date for the next hearing. The court is likely to issue written orders later in the day.

• Imran Khan now an inmate at high-security prison, but jail may not be end of road for Pakistan's ex-PM