SUPREME COURT GRANTS BAIL TO IMRAN KHAN IN EIGHT MAY 9 CASES
Supreme Court Decision on Imran Khan’s Bail
The Supreme Court of Pakistan on Thursday approved bail for PTI founder Imran Khan in eight cases linked to the May 9, 2023 unrest. The cases include serious allegations such as the attack on the Lahore Corps Commander’s residence.
The three-member bench, headed by Chief Justice Yahya Afridi, reconstituted with Justice Hasan Azhar Rizvi replacing Justice Mian Gul Hasan Aurangzeb, heard Khan’s petitions and granted him relief.
Key Legal Questions Raised
During the proceedings, the bench highlighted two important legal questions:
- Can a court issue a final ruling in a bail matter?
- Should consistency be applied when the Supreme Court has previously granted bail in conspiracy-related cases?
Special Prosecutor Zulfiqar Naqvi argued that bail decisions are interim in nature and do not affect trial outcomes. He noted that the current case involved social media-based conspiracy evidence. However, the Chief Justice reminded the prosecution that bail had already been granted in three similar conspiracy cases, and no precedent of denial was presented.
Arguments from the Defense
Imran Khan’s lawyer, Salman Safdar, maintained that all legal precedents favored granting bail. The Chief Justice emphasized that remarks made in bail cases are temporary and should not influence the trial’s outcome.
Previous Bail Rejections
Before this Supreme Court relief, Khan’s bail was rejected twice:
- November 2024 – An Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) in Lahore rejected bail in May 9 riot cases.
- June 2024 – The Lahore High Court (LHC) also dismissed Khan’s appeal.
After these rejections, the PTI founder challenged the decisions before the Supreme Court, which has now ruled in his favor.
Adjournment Due to Prosecutor’s Illness
Interestingly, Thursday’s hearing was adjourned midway after Special Prosecutor Naqvi fell ill. The case was rescheduled and taken up again, where the Supreme Court announced its decision.
Political and Legal Implications
This ruling marks a significant relief for Imran Khan, who remains jailed but now has bail in the eight May 9 cases. The decision also sets a precedent for bail consistency in conspiracy-related cases, reaffirming that bail rulings are interim measures and not final judgments.
Key Points :
- Supreme Court grants bail to Imran Khan in eight May 9 cases
- Bench led by Chief Justice Yahya Afridi
- Questions raised on bail consistency and finality of rulings
- LHC and ATC previously rejected bail applications
- Cases include May 9 riots and Lahore Corps Commander’s house attack
- Court reiterates bail orders are interim, not final rulings
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