The Supreme Court of Pakistan granted relief to former prime minister and PTI founder Imran Khan by approving his bail in eight separate cases related to the May 9 riots. The decision was announced by a three-member bench led by Chief Justice Yahya Afridi, along with Justice Hasan Azhar Rizvi and Justice Muhammad Shafi.
The ruling came after Imran Khan’s bail pleas were earlier rejected by the Lahore High Court in June. Those cases included the attack on Jinnah House in Lahore, which was one of the central incidents of the May 9 unrest.
Khan, who has remained in jail for over two years, challenged the LHC decision in the Supreme Court. His petition argued that the FIRs carried no solid evidence against him. He also said that allegations about his role in the riots were false and baseless.
In his plea, Khan maintained that he was already in NAB custody during the time of the May 9 protests, making it impossible for him to participate. His legal team highlighted contradictions in the prosecution’s statements and questioned the credibility of delayed police testimony. The petition also accused police officials of mala fide intent and demanded further investigation.
During the hearing, CJP Afridi questioned prosecutor Zulfiqar Naqvi about the evidence. Naqvi claimed that three witnesses had testified against Khan. He also referred to photogrammetric tests, voice matching tests, and WhatsApp messages. The prosecutor alleged that the accused did not cooperate during the investigation, even though the trial court had permitted the tests.
The Chief Justice, however, warned the prosecutor not to push for findings from the Supreme Court. “Let the trial court decide based on evidence,” he remarked, adding that the top court would avoid commenting on the merits of the case. Justice Rizvi also asked whether any investigation was carried out after Khan’s interim bail was approved on May 14, and if he had cooperated with authorities.
Prosecutor Naqvi stressed that the PTI founder had a central role in the May 9 events. On the other hand, Khan’s lawyer Salman Safdar countered by saying that the challan had not been submitted in any of the eight cases. He argued that Khan was named in only three FIRs while absent from the remaining five.
After hearing both sides, CJP Afridi delivered the verdict granting Imran Khan bail in all eight cases. He emphasized that any observation from the Supreme Court on the merits could affect the trial, so the matter should proceed without prejudice.
May 9 Riots Background
The May 9, 2023 violence erupted after Imran Khan’s arrest from the Islamabad High Court premises in a corruption case. The protests quickly turned violent, targeting civil and military installations, including the Corps Commander’s House in Lahore and the General Headquarters (GHQ) in Rawalpindi.
Several PTI leaders and supporters were later arrested, with many released on bail while others remain in prison. Imran Khan, who was ousted from office through a no-confidence vote in April 2022, has been in jail since August 2023. He faces numerous cases ranging from corruption to terrorism after his removal as prime minister.