Lahore: The Lahore High Court has rejected Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan’s bail petitions in eight separate cases linked to the violent events of May 9, 2023.
A two-member bench headed by Justice Shahbaz Rizvi announced the reserved verdict on Tuesday, dismissing all eight bail applications filed by the former prime minister.
The verdict followed the completion of arguments by the legal counsels of both parties, after which the court had reserved its decision a day earlier.
The cases stem from the widespread unrest that erupted across the country after Imran Khan’s dramatic arrest from the premises of the Islamabad High Court on May 9, 2023, in connection with the Al-Qadir Trust case.
The protests, largely led by PTI supporters, escalated into violent riots, resulting in attacks on military, civilian, and private properties. At least eight people were killed and over 290 injured during the chaos.
One of the most notable incidents included the storming of the Corps Commander’s residence in Lahore, commonly known as Jinnah House, and the forced breach of a gate at the General Headquarters (GHQ) in Rawalpindi.
Following the nationwide unrest, law enforcement agencies launched a large-scale crackdown, arresting over 1,900 individuals allegedly involved in arson, vandalism, and attacks on state infrastructure. Numerous cases were registered against Imran Khan and PTI workers in connection with these events.
The rejection of bail in these high-profile cases further complicates the legal battles faced by the embattled former prime minister.
