An Anti-Terrorism Court in Lahore on Tuesday rejected the interim bail pleas of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan in three separate cases related to the May 9 riots, paving the way for the incarcerated politician to be arrested for further investigation.
Announcing a verdict reserved three days earlier, Judge Khalid Arshad cancelled the bail pleas of Khan in the May 9 rioting cases related to vandalism at the Lahore Corps Commander’s House, the Askari Tower and Shadman Police Station. The cancellation indicates further incarceration for the PTI founder, who is currently imprisoned due to his conviction in the iddat case after being acquitted in the cipher case and securing bail in the £190 million reference and Toshakhana cases.
While the short order was announced on Tuesday, the judge said he would announce the detailed verdict on Wednesday to allow for Khan’s counsel to appear before the bench.
During proceedings, the government sought Khan’s arrest in all three cases, arguing his arrest was essential for interrogation. The prosecution’s counsel likened the May 9 riots to the Capitol Hill riots in the United States, noting police required the custody of the former prime minister to complete its probe in all three cases.
The prosecutor also cited a video released by the PTI prior to Khan’s arrest on May 9 in which he said he was fighting for ‘haqeeqi azadi.’ He said that mob crimes considered every individual involved as an accomplice, including those guiding the unrest remotely via modern communication tools.
Khan’s counsel Salman Safdar, meanwhile, had argued there was no witness to prove Khan had incited violence, adding he was imprisoned while the May 9 riots were underway. He claimed Khan had condemned the riots and urged his supporters to refrain from violence after his release.