Imran Khan’s Bail Pleas Rejected by LHC in May 9 Violence Cases
Imran Khan has been imprisoned since August 2023 after being sentenced in multiple cases ahead of the February 8, 2025, general elections.
The Lahore High Court (LHC) rejected the bail pleas of former prime minister and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan in eight cases related to the May 9, 2023, violent protests, including the high-profile attack on the Lahore Corps Commander’s residence (Jinnah House).
The decision was announced on Tuesday, June 24, by a two-member bench headed by Justice Shahbaz Ali Rizvi after hearing arguments from both prosecution and defence, with the verdict having been reserved since June 23.
These cases stem from widespread demonstrations by PTI supporters following Imran Khan’s arrest by paramilitary forces on the orders of the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) in a corruption case.
The protests escalated into violence involving destruction of public and private property, attacks on military installations such as the General Headquarters (GHQ) in Rawalpindi and Jinnah House in Lahore, and desecration of martyrs’ monuments. The civil and military leadership vowed exemplary punishment under relevant laws, including the Army Act, for those involved.
Imran Khan’s counsel argued that he was falsely implicated and already in custody at the time of the incidents, while the prosecution alleged that Khan had instructed party workers to attack military installations and incited anti-army sentiments.
The prosecution also noted that Khan refused to undergo voice-matching, polygraph, and photogrammetric tests ordered by the court. The Anti-Terrorism Court had previously denied his bail applications in these cases on November 27, 2024.
Imran Khan has been imprisoned since August 2023 after being sentenced in multiple cases ahead of the February 8, 2025, general elections. He has faced numerous charges ranging from corruption to terrorism since his removal from office via a no-confidence motion in April 2022.
