The Supreme Court of Pakistan has approved bail for Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder and former Prime Minister Imran Khan in cases related to the May 9 incidents.
The apex court announced this decision during the hearing of multiple cases filed across the country following the violent protests and attacks on government and military installations under the May 9 cases.
The Supreme Court has constituted a new bench to hear Imran Khan’s bail applications. Justice Hasan Azhar Rizvi has been included in the three-member bench in place of Justice Mian Gul Hasan Aurangzeb, while Chief Justice Yahya Afridi is leading the new bench. Other judges include Justice Muhammad Shafiq Siddiqui. The bench will soon rehear other bail applications of Imran Khan.
During the previous hearing, Chief Justice Yahya Afridi had questioned the Lahore High Court’s decision, which had rejected Imran Khan’s bail. The Chief Justice remarked that giving a final opinion on the bail application could influence the trial, and therefore, the court seeks further assistance from the parties on legal points at this stage.
Imran Khan was represented by Barrister Salman Safdar, while Special Prosecutor Zulfiqar Naqvi appeared for Punjab. The Chief Justice instructed the lawyers to come fully prepared for the next hearing to present comprehensive arguments on legal points.
Meanwhile, a local court in Islamabad rejected prosecution requests for the physical remand of PTI workers and maintained the decision to send them to jail on judicial remand. Duty Additional District and Sessions Judge Shabbir Bhatti delivered the reserved decision, rejecting the prosecution’s stance.
It is worth noting that a total of 63 workers have been named in cases filed at the Margalla and Industrial Area (I-9) police stations, for which FIRs were registered by unrelated individuals. The court ruled that physical remand is not necessary at this stage.
