LAHORE: A Lahore anti-terrorism court (ATC) granted bail to Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan in four cases related to the May 9 incidents.
ATC Judge Arshad Javed presided over the hearing, where he approved bail requests submitted by Imran Khan, the former prime minister.
Punjab Prosecutor General Farhad Ali opposed the pleas, arguing that Khan had incited his supporters to target key government buildings in the event of his arrest.
Earlier, Imran Khan filed a petition in the Islamabad High Court (IHC) challenging the transfer of May 9 cases to military courts. Through his lawyer, Aziz Karamat Bhandari, Khan named the secretary of law, the secretary of home, and senior police and federal officials as respondents, urging the court to prevent the cases from being tried in military courts.
In a separate case, the ATC acquitted 18 individuals, including PTI workers, in connection with the May 9 riots, citing insufficient evidence. The accused had been charged with protesting in Landi Kotal, blocking Torkham Road, causing property damage, and vandalizing an Anti-Narcotics Force vehicle, but the court found no evidence to support these allegations.
May 9 Violence
Widespread violence erupted across Pakistan on May 9, 2023, following Imran Khan’s arrest. Protests broke out in various regions, including major cities, where PTI supporters, angered by their leader’s detention, clashed with security forces.
The unrest led authorities in Balochistan, Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and Islamabad to call in military assistance to restore order.
During the protests, several army installations, including the Lahore Corps Commander’s residence, were targeted. Imran Khan is a primary suspect in all cases related to the May 9 disturbances.
