The Supreme Court of Pakistan on Thursday approved the bail petitions of former Prime Minister Imran Khan in eight separate cases linked to the May 9, 2023 unrest.
https://x.com/PTIofficial/status/1958434090975183006
The violent protests erupted after Imran’s arrest, when PTI workers took to the streets across the country. Demonstrators damaged government properties, attacked military installations, and stormed the Lahore Corps Commander’s residence. In the aftermath, thousands of workers and several PTI leaders were detained.
Earlier in November 2024, an anti-terrorism court in Lahore had dismissed Imran’s bail pleas in these cases, including the attack on the corps commander’s house. His appeal against that order was also rejected by the Lahore High Court (LHC) in June this year. Following that, the PTI founder approached the Supreme Court to challenge the decisions.
Proceedings in the Supreme Court
The case was heard by a three-member bench headed by Chief Justice Yahya Afridi, along with Justices Muhammad Shafi Siddiqui and Hasan Azhar Rizvi.
Barrister Salman Safdar represented Imran Khan, while Punjab’s special prosecutor, Zulfiqar Naqvi, appeared on behalf of the state. Both sides completed their arguments before the bench announced its ruling in favor of Imran.
Chief Justice Afridi questioned the prosecutor about the LHC’s earlier decision, particularly whether final observations could be made in bail matters. He also pointed out that the same court had previously granted bail to another suspect in a conspiracy case, asking if that precedent did not apply here.
The prosecutor maintained that bail orders are always “interim in nature” and have no bearing on the trial itself. However, the bench noted that in similar conspiracy-related cases, the Supreme Court had consistently granted bail.
Justice Rizvi also pressed the prosecution on the lack of clear evidence, questioning whether sufficient investigation had been done despite Imran being out on bail for two months after the incident. The bench further observed that any evidence, including witness statements and forensic tests, would ultimately be examined during the trial phase and not at the bail stage.
Political Reactions
While PTI members celebrated the verdict, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar criticized the party’s response. He stated that bail does not equate to acquittal, adding: “Even murderers and robbers receive bail. This is not freedom, the trial is still pending.”
Imran Khan, however, continues to face several other legal challenges. He has been in prison since August 2023, serving a sentence in the £190 million corruption case related to state gifts, while other May 9-related trials are still ongoing.