The Supreme Court of Pakistan on Thursday granted bail to former prime minister Imran Khan in eight cases linked to the May 9, 2023 riots, including the attack on the Lahore corps commander’s residence. Earlier, both the Lahore anti-terrorism court and the Lahore High Court (LHC) had denied him bail, prompting the PTI founder to challenge the decisions before the apex court.
The case was heard by a three-member bench led by Chief Justice of Pakistan Yahya Afridi, alongside Justices Muhammad Shafi Siddiqui and Hasan Azhar Rizvi. Barrister Salman Safdar represented Khan, while Punjab Special Prosecutor Zulfiqar Naqvi appeared for the state. After hearing arguments from both sides, the bench announced its ruling in Khan’s favor.
Despite the relief, Imran Khan continues to face numerous other cases. Imprisoned since August 2023 in the £190 million graft case related to state gifts, he remains confined at Adiala Jail and is also facing ongoing trials connected to the May 9 riots. Following the decision, PTI celebrated the ruling online, declaring it a “Victory For Imran Khan.”
During the hearing, Chief Justice Afridi posed two critical questions to the state prosecutor. First, he asked whether final observations could be made in a bail case, noting that previous findings by the LHC should not prejudice trial proceedings. Second, he questioned whether the principle of precedence applied, as the LHC had earlier granted bail to a suspect facing conspiracy charges.
Prosecutor Naqvi responded that observations in bail cases are of an “interim nature” and carry no influence on the trial. He later requested to argue on the merits of the case, but the CJP restricted him strictly to answering legal questions about conspiracy charges, making clear that the apex court would not delve into trial matters at this stage.
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