Lahore, April 14, 2025: Former Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairman Imran Khan has said that he was in the custody of the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) in Islamabad on May 9, 2023—the day of the Jinnah House attack and related incidents—and argued that the multiple cases against him are rooted in political victimization.
Imran Khan made the assertion in bail petitions filed before the Lahore High Court, seeking relief in eight separate first information reports (FIRs) linked to the violent protests of May 9. The petitions were heard by a two-member bench comprising Justice Syed Shahbaz Ali Rizvi and Justice Tariq Saleem Sheikh.
Appearing on Khan’s behalf, Advocate Salman Safdar reiterated that arguments had already been concluded at a previous hearing. He also clarified that while some related matters are pending before the Supreme Court, the petitions in question pertain specifically to bail in eight distinct cases currently under the jurisdiction of the Lahore High Court.
During the proceedings, the state counsel informed the court that records for all May 9-related cases have been submitted to the Supreme Court. Barrister Safdar maintained that Khan’s presence in NAB custody at the time of the incidents disproves his involvement, emphasizing that the charges are part of a politically motivated campaign to keep him behind bars.
Imran Khan urged the court to grant him bail and order his release in all eight cases. The bench adjourned further hearing until April 17.
It is worth noting that the Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) in Lahore had previously rejected Khan’s bail pleas in these cases on November 27, 2023.
