SC grants post-arrest bail to Imran in May 9 cases

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court (SC) on Thursday granted post arrest bail to former prime minister and Pakistan Tehreek e Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan in cases related to the May 9 incidents.

A three member bench, headed by Chief Justice Yahya Afridi with Justice Hassan Azhar Rizvi and Justice Muhammad Shafi Siddiqui, heard his appeal against the Lahore High Court’s (LHC) decision, which had dismissed his petition for bail. The Supreme Court allowed his appeals and granted bail in eight cases, subject to his furnishing a bail bond of Rs100,000 with one surety of the same amount in each case.

Imran Khan had sought leave to appeal under Article 185(3) of the Constitution against the LHC’s orders of 24 June 2025, which had denied his post arrest bail in the cases registered at various police stations in Lahore on 10-13 May 2023. These FIRs covered offences under numerous sections of the Pakistan Penal Code, the Anti Terrorism Act 1997, the Punjab Maintenance of Public Order Ordinance 1960, and the Arms Ordinance 1965.

In its short order, while avoiding any judgment on the legality of the LHC’s findings, the Supreme Court noted that such findings recorded at the bail stage are tentative and better assessed during trial, once evidence is fully presented and contested. The court emphasized the importance of consistency, noting that bail had already been granted to others similarly placed, which favoured a positive consideration of Imran Khan’s petitions. Punjab’s special prosecutor highlighted witness statements and electronic media linking Imran Khan to the alleged criminal conspiracy, but when questioned about prior bail decisions involving individuals charged similarly, the prosecutor acknowledged that findings in bail orders are not final and do not affect the trial. Barrister Salman Safdar, representing Imran Khan, contended that the principle of parity should apply, pointing out that others facing similar charges had already been granted bail. He maintained that Imran Khan’s position was even stronger, as investigations and trial proceedings were less advanced in his case compared to theirs. The court concurred, noting that the evidence on record warranted a thorough examination during the trial.

During arguments, Chief Justice Afridi cautioned against delving into merits at this stage, stressing that this ought to be done at trial, and refraining from issuing any findings that could prejudice either party. Both the prosecution and defence were instructed to focus solely on legal questions pertaining to bail.

Meanwhile, Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar criticised PTI’s portrayal of the bail ruling as a political triumph, reminding the public that bail is merely a procedural relief and does not equate to exoneration. He noted that Imran Khan remains convicted in the £190 million Al Qadir Trust corruption case, where he is serving a 14 year sentence. Describing PTI’s celebrations as “tasteless”, Tarar accused the party of deflecting from accountability as public support dwindles. PTI leaders welcomed the court’s decision, calling it a milestone for justice and reaffirming their commitment to democracy and judicial independence. At a press conference, PTI Secretary General Salman Akram Raja declared the verdict had exposed a “fabricated May 9 narrative” and insisted that Imran Khan now only faces the Al Qadir Trust case. Latif Khosa called the ruling a “breath of fresh air” and criticised the merit of May 9 cases, noting that Imran features in only a few FIRs. Aamir Dogar described the outcome as “the first drop of rain” in the party’s quest for justice.