Imran Khan Freed

ISLAMABAD - Pakistani authorities Wednesday freed hunger-striking cricket legend Imran Khan from prison, where he has been detained for the last week under anti-terrorism laws, jail officials said.

He was freed on the instructions of the provincial government, said Sheikh Inamur Rehman, superintendent of Dera Ghazi Khan prison in central Punjab province.

Khan was detained last week and charged under anti-terrorism laws after he tried to lead a student protest in Lahore against emergency rule. He began a hunger strike on Monday. Khan's sister Allema earlier said Khan had stopped drinking water and that he was weak on the third day of his hunger strike.

"This is a goodwill gesture from the interim government because it wants to give a level playing field to all political parties before the election campaign gets underway," a senior provincial government official said, adding, Khan was offered official transport to return to Lahore.

The authorities this week began relasing thousands of people arrested under emergency rule.

Saudigazette.com