In a significant legal development, Pakistan’s Supreme Court on Thursday granted bail to former Prime Minister Imran Khan in eight separate cases connected to violent protests and attacks on military installations that broke out on May 9, 2023.
A three-member bench, headed by Chief Justice Yahya Afridi, set aside the Lahore High Court’s earlier decision, which had rejected bail in these matters. The court ruled that Khan should be released, provided he is not wanted in any other case.
Despite the ruling, Khan will remain in prison as he is serving a sentence in the high-profile Al-Qadir Trust corruption case, which involves the alleged misappropriation of large sums linked to a property settlement.
During the hearing, Khan’s legal team argued that no formal indictments had been filed in the eight riot-related cases, and that his name only appeared in a few of the police reports. The Supreme Court accepted these arguments, with the Chief Justice stating that bail could be granted since a detailed examination of evidence belongs at the trial stage.
Supporters of Khan’s party, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), welcomed the decision and described it as a political and moral victory. Party representatives stressed that with this ruling, only the Al-Qadir Trust case currently stands in the way of Khan’s potential release from custody.
The May 9 cases arose after Khan’s dramatic arrest last year, which triggered nationwide demonstrations and mob attacks on government and military facilities, including the army’s General Headquarters in Rawalpindi. The unrest led to hundreds of arrests and numerous legal battles involving PTI members and leaders.
Although the Supreme Court’s decision marks an important shift in Khan’s ongoing legal struggles, multiple convictions and pending trials mean that the former premier’s path to freedom remains far from clear.
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