Islamabad, August 12, 2025: The Supreme Court on Tuesday issued notice to the prosecution over Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan’s petition challenging the Lahore High Court’s (LHC) refusal to grant him post-arrest bail in eight May 9 riot cases.
A three-member bench headed by Chief Justice Yahya Afridi, with Justice Shafi Siddiqui and Justice Mian Gul Hassan Aurangzeb, took up the case. The CJP observed that the LHC appeared to have given “final findings” in its bail order, and asked both sides to assist the court on whether such conclusions were permissible before trial.
The court made clear it would avoid remarks that could affect the merits of the pending cases.
The LHC had earlier rejected Imran’s bail pleas, with a two-member bench led by Justice Shahbaz Ali Rizvi ruling against him after hearing arguments from both sides. PTI condemned the decision as a “blatant miscarriage of justice,” insisting Imran was implicated without credible evidence while already in custody.
During the proceedings, Punjab government counsel Zulfiqar Naqvi said they had not received prior notice in the matter. The CJP assured that notice would be issued and kept the hearing date as August 19, declining PTI’s request to advance it.
The May 9, 2023, protests erupted nationwide after Imran’s arrest at the Islamabad High Court in a graft case, leading to attacks on civil and military installations. The former prime minister, ousted via a no-confidence vote in April 2022, has remained in jail since August 2023 following multiple convictions. Several PTI leaders and workers are still facing trial over the unrest.
