Lahore’s Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) has issued a detailed seven-page judgment denying bail to Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan in the Jinnah House attack case.
Presiding Judge Manzar Ali Gul stressed that Khan’s position as a leader significantly influences his party members and supporters, with other party officials unlikely to oppose his directives. The court declared the former prime minister culpable in the case.
The judgment highlighted that on the day of the incident, arson and vandalism targeted military sites, government offices, and law enforcement officials, while private properties remained largely unaffected.
Prosecutors alleged that the attack was planned at Khan’s Zaman Park residence. They added that the fire at Jinnah House destroyed valuable items, and petrol bombs and batons were recovered from 50 detained suspects. Many other perpetrators reportedly evaded capture.
The court ruled that there was no basis to grant Khan bail and dismissed his applications. On November 27, the ATC had already rejected his bail pleas in this and seven other cases.
On May 9, 2023, PTI workers staged nationwide protests following Khan’s arrest by paramilitary forces on the National Accountability Bureau’s (NAB) orders in a corruption case. Demonstrators damaged public and private properties, attacked military sites—including the General Headquarters (GHQ) in Rawalpindi and Lahore’s Corps Commander House (Jinnah House)—and desecrated monuments honoring martyrs.
The civil and military leadership vowed to prosecute those involved in the May 9 violence under applicable laws, including the Army Act, promising exemplary punishments for arson, vandalism, and attacks on sensitive sites.
