Supreme Court Grants Bail to Imran Khan in Eight May 9 Riot Cases
ISLAMABAD – The Supreme Court of Pakistan on Thursday approved the bail petitions of former prime minister Imran Khan in eight cases linked to the May 9, 2023 riots.
In November 2024, an anti-terrorism court in Lahore had rejected Khan’s bail pleas in cases related to the riots, including the attack on the residence of the Lahore corps commander. The Lahore High Court (LHC) also turned down his challenge on June 24, prompting Khan to approach the apex court.
Court Proceedings
The case was heard by a three-member bench headed by Chief Justice Yahya Afridi, alongside Justice Muhammad Shafi Siddiqui and Justice Miangul Hassan Aurangzeb.
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Barrister Salman Safdar represented the PTI founder.
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Punjab Special Prosecutor Zulfiqar Naqvi appeared on behalf of the state.
After both sides presented their arguments, the chief justice announced the bench’s decision in Khan’s favor.
Key Observations
During the hearing, CJP Afridi questioned the legal scope of LHC’s earlier observations. He asked whether a final conclusion could be made in a bail case and if judicial precedence applied since the same court had previously granted bail in a conspiracy-related charge.
Prosecutor Naqvi argued that court remarks during bail proceedings are always “interim in nature” and do not affect the outcome of the main trial.
Broader Context
Although granted relief in these cases, Khan continues to face several other legal challenges. The PTI founder has been imprisoned since August 2023 in the £190 million graft case related to state gifts. He remains at Adiala Jail, where multiple May 9 riot cases are still pending.
Following the verdict, PTI welcomed the ruling on social media, calling it a “Victory for Imran Khan”.
