Pakistan Supreme Court grants bail to former PM Imran Khan in eight May 9 cases

Dubai: Pakistan’s Supreme Court on Thursday approved bail for former Prime Minister Imran Khan in eight cases linked to the May 9, 2023, unrest, according to local media reports.

The ruling came during hearings on multiple cases registered against Khan following nationwide protests and attacks on government and military installations last year.

A three-member bench, led by Chief Justice Yahya Afridi and including Justices Muhammad Shafi Siddiqui and Miangul Hassan Aurangzeb, considered the petitions, Geo News said.

Despite the relief, Khan’s immediate release remains uncertain. He has been in prison since August 2023, serving sentences in a case related to state gifts and another involving £190 million. Several other trials connected to the May 9 riots are still pending.

The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) welcomed the Supreme Court’s decision, calling it a “Victory for Imran Khan” in a post on X (formerly Twitter). The party also shared a video of Khan, who said: “Keep one thing in mind: when the night becomes darkest, it means morning is about to come.”

Khan’s bail petitions had earlier been dismissed by the Lahore High Court on June 24, prompting him to appeal to the Supreme Court.

The May 9 riots erupted after Khan’s arrest from the Islamabad High Court premises last year, triggering violent protests across major cities. PTI workers attacked government buildings and army installations, including the Lahore Corps Commander’s residence and Rawalpindi’s General Headquarters (GHQ).

During Thursday’s hearing, Chief Justice Afridi questioned prosecutor Zulfiqar Naqvi on the evidence against Khan, who faces allegations based on witness testimony, photogrammetric analysis, voice matching, and WhatsApp messages. The prosecutor noted that Khan did not cooperate with certain tests approved by the trial court.

“The PTI founder has a central role in all [May 9] cases,” Naqvi said. Khan’s lawyer, Salman Safdar, countered that the challan in the eight cases had not been formally presented against him and that he was named in only three of the FIRs.

Chief Justice Afridi issued a verbal verdict granting bail, noting that any observations on the merits of the case would remain within the trial court’s proceedings.

PTI officials have also moved to fill key parliamentary positions. Khan has nominated Mahmood Khan Achakzai of the Pashtunkhwa Milli Awami Party for Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly and Azam Khan Swati for the Senate, with further nominations pending for the Punjab Assembly.

Khan, who was ousted from power via a no-confidence vote in April 2022, has faced dozens of legal cases since his removal, ranging from corruption to allegations of terrorism. While several PTI leaders have been released on bail, many supporters remain in custody.

The Supreme Court’s decision marks a significant development in Khan’s ongoing legal battles and underscores the continued political turbulence in Pakistan.