Former PM of Pakistan Gets Relief from Supreme Court
The Supreme Court of Pakistan on Thursday approved bail pleas filed by Imran Khan in eight cases related to the May 9, 2023 riots, a major legal victory for the incarcerated PTI leader.
These cases, including the high-profile attack on the Lahore corps commander’s residence, were previously denied bail by an anti-terrorism court in Lahore in November 2024. The Lahore High Court (LHC) had also rejected his pleas on June 24, 2025. Following this, Imran Khan escalated the matter to the Supreme Court of Pakistan.
The hearing was conducted by a three-member bench led by Chief Justice Yahya Afridi, alongside Justices Muhammad Shafi Siddiqui and Miangul Hassan Aurangzeb. Representing Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan was Barrister Salman Safdar, while Punjab Special Prosecutor Zulfiqar Naqvi argued on behalf of the state.
Legal Questions Raised in Pakistan’s Top Court
During the hearing, CJP Afridi raised concerns regarding LHC’s prior observations and questioned their impact on the bail verdict. The prosecutor maintained that court remarks in bail hearings are “interim in nature” and do not influence the final trial outcome.
Despite Thursday’s ruling, Imran Khan remains jailed at Adiala Jail in connection with the £190 million graft case. He also faces multiple pending trials in Pakistan related to the May 9 riots.
The PTI celebrated the SC decision with a social media campaign using the hashtag #VictoryForImranKhan, calling it a moment of justice for Pakistan.
