LAHORE:
The Superior Court of Lahore rejected the bail requests presented by the founder of Pakistan Tehreek-E-Insaf (PTI) Imran Khan in eight cases linked to May 9, 2023, disturbances, causing strong criticisms of the party, which the ruler described as a “flagrant conflict of justice.”
The decision, pronounced by a two -members bank led by Judge Shahbaz Ali Rizvi, followed the conclusion of arguments of prosecution and defense.
Imran’s legal team had argued that the former prime minister was involved without credible evidence while he was already in custody and denied any participation in violence.
May 9 riots burst throughout the country after Khan arrest in a graft case and included attacks against civil and military facilities, including Lahore’s Jinnah house.
The Prosecutor’s Office said that Khan prompted supporters to go to military facilities and cited forensic evidence, including audio recordings, which Khan supposedly refused to verify through the voice coincidence.
PTI’s legal advisor argued that the charges were politically promoted and were based on vague accusations of embedding. They argued that the cases were part of a broader campaign to discredit the party and its leader.
In a strongly written statement, PTI Punjab expressed a deep disappointment, accusing the Judiciary to operate under political influence.
“The courts have not been able to defend the principles of justice,” said the party, promising to continue their legal struggle and launch a peaceful protest movement that demands democratic restoration and the release of political detainees.
Imran, who has been imprisoned since August 2023 after multiple convictions, remains a central figure in Pakistani politics despite his expulsion in April 2022 through a vote without confidence. Several leaders and workers of PTI remain imprisoned by the incidents of May 9, while others have been awarded.
The party maintains that the current legal actions are an attempt to dismantle the largest political force in the country before critical political transitions.
