Pakistan's Supreme Court ruled Thursday that former Prime Minister Imran Khan's arrest was unlawful in a decision overturning a lower court's ruling earlier this week that said it was legal.

The court ordered Khan to be released, officials in Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf political party said on Twitter.

Paramilitary troops arrested Khan on May 9 on multiple corruption charges. 

At least eight people died and hundreds were arrested in anti-military protests that broke out following Khan's arrest, according to CNN. 

Khan had said he was arrested because officials wanted to prevent him from campaigning in Pakistan's upcoming elections.

Madeleine Hubbard is an international correspondent for Just the News. Follow her on Twitter or Instagram.