The Lahore High Court (LHC) on Tuesday dismissed the bail petitions of former Prime Minister and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan in eight separate cases linked to the May 9, 2023, riots.
A two-member bench headed by Justice Shahbaz Ali Rizvi announced the reserved verdict after hearing arguments from both the prosecution and defence counsel.
The dismissed petitions include cases pertaining to the violent attacks on sensitive military installations, including the ransacking of the Corps Commander House (Jinnah House) in Lahore.
Imran Khan had approached the LHC seeking bail in multiple cases registered after widespread protests erupted across the country on May 9, 2023, following his arrest by paramilitary forces in connection with an alleged corruption case filed by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB).
May 9 Riots Background
The protests led by PTI supporters turned violent, resulting in arson, attacks on public and private properties, and desecration of national monuments and military symbols, including the General Headquarters (GHQ) in Rawalpindi and the Jinnah House in Lahore.
In response, the civil and military leadership vowed to bring all culprits to justice under applicable laws, including the Pakistan Army Act, terming the events of May 9 a direct attack on national integrity.
Imran Khan, who was ousted through a no-confidence motion in April 2022, has been incarcerated since August 2023. He is currently serving sentences in multiple cases, ranging from corruption and incitement to terrorism, with several more pending adjudication.
