Lahore, June 24, 2025: The Lahore High Court (LHC) on Tuesday rejected former Prime Minister and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan’s bail petitions in eight cases linked to the violent incidents of May 9, 2023.
A two-member bench headed by Justice Syed Shahbaz Ali Rizvi announced the verdict after hearing arguments from both the prosecution and the defense.
Barrister Salman Safdar, representing Imran Khan, contended that the cases were politically motivated and emphasized that his client was in National Accountability Bureau (NAB) custody at the time of the incidents and had no knowledge of the events unfolding outside. He noted that Khan had publicly condemned the violence and urged the court to grant him post-arrest bail.
The prosecution, however, opposed the petitions, arguing that the attacks on military and public properties were part of a coordinated and premeditated plan. Prosecutors alleged that the violence was carried out on the direct instructions of the PTI founder and submitted purported evidence to substantiate their claim.
Following the conclusion of arguments, the court reserved its verdict and subsequently dismissed all eight bail applications.
The rejected cases include Jinnah House attack, Askari Tower vandalism, Shadman police station arson, Rahat Bakery attack, Torching of a government vehicle outside Jinnah House, Sherpao Bridge arson, Rioting in Mughalpura and violence outside Zaman Park.
The May 9 events, which followed Imran Khan’s arrest in a corruption case last year, triggered widespread protests, many of which turned violent. Several PTI leaders and workers were arrested in the aftermath, and multiple cases were registered under terrorism and public order laws.
