Imran Khan is granted bail by the SC in eight May 9 instances.

ISLAMABAD Imran Khan, the founder of the PTI, was granted bail by the Supreme Court of Pakistan on Thursday in eight instances pertaining to the events of May 9.

Khan received relief when the three-member bench, led by Chief Justice Yahya Afridi, heard the petitions. In a previous reconstitution of the bench, Justice Hasan Azhar Rizvi took the place of Justice Mian Gul Hasan Aurangzeb.

Special Prosecutor Zulfiqar Naqvi gave an explanation at the court for his illness-related absence from the prior hearing. In response, the Chief Justice said it was not a problem.

The judge asked Khan’s attorney and the prosecution two important questions:

1. Is it possible for a court to make a final decision about bail?
2. Does the concept of consistency apply in this case as the Supreme Court has granted bail in situations involving conspiracies before?

Citing several examples, Naqvi said that court opinions in bail applications are always of an interim nature and have no bearing on the trial. Additionally, he said that, in contrast to other cases, the current case incorporates conspiracy evidence that is making the rounds on social media.
However, Chief Justice Afridi emphasized that the trial court would decide on merits and that the Supreme Court will not now review factual facts. Recalling that the Court had recently granted bail in three cases that were comparable, he urged the prosecution to provide any precedent in which bail was refused in a conspiracy case.

Salman Safdar, Khan’s attorney, insisted that all pertinent precedents supported the granting of bail.

In closing, the Chief Justice reiterated that bail-related remarks are transient and shouldn’t taint the trial.

Since the Special Prosecutor became unwell, the hearing on Thursday was postponed, and the matter was rescheduled for today.

Imran Khan’s bail request in matters related to the May 9, 2023 riots, including the assault on the Lahore corps commander’s home, was denied by a Lahore anti-terrorism court in November 2024.

The Lahore High Court (LHC) rejected his appeal against the ruling on June 24. The imprisoned PTI leader appealed the decision to the Supreme Court a few days later.