The Supreme Court on Thursday accepted the bail pleas of former Prime Minister Imran Khan in eight cases related to the May 9, 2023 riots.
A three-member bench led by Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Yahya Afridi and comprising Justices Muhammad Shafi Siddiqui and Hasan Azhar Rizvi ruled in favor of Khan after hearing arguments from Salman Safdar, representing Khan, and Punjab Special Prosecutor Zulfiqar Naqvi, representing the state. In its ruling, the apex court has declared the earlier verdict denying Khan bail “null and void.”
The PTI has hailed the development, declaring it a victory for Khan’s narrative branding the May 9 riots as a “false flag” operation. However, the ruling does not mean Khan would be released; he remains imprisoned in cases related to the Al-Qadir Trust Case, appeals against which are pending in the Islamabad High Court (IHC).
In June, Khan had filed an appeal against a Lahore High Court (LHC) ruling denying him bail in cases related to the May 9 riots. The court dismissed the plea, citing witness testimonies.