The Lahore High Court (LHC) has refused to grant bail to former Prime Minister Imran Khan in eight cases linked to the violent protests on May 9, 2023. A two‑member bench led by Justice Shehbaz Rizvi made the decision on Tuesday after reviewing the applications.
These cases involve serious charges such as inciting violence, vandalism, and attacks on police and military installations. Prosecutors claimed Imran Khan encouraged his supporters to target state property following his arrest, which triggered the unrest. They also said damage exceeded hundreds of millions of rupees, including a major BBC report on losses at Jinnah House and other locations.
Imran Khan’s legal team argued that he was wrongly accused and that he was already in custody when much of the damage happened. They stressed that public praise from his supporters should not be treated as criminal incitement .
Before delivering the verdict, the LHC reserved its decision after concluding the hearing, which began last week. The court had also questioned why Khan was being treated differently from other accused individuals who had received bail .
With the bail requests denied, Imran Khan remains in custody. His party may appeal the decision in the Supreme Court. Meanwhile, the legal battle continues as Pakistan’s political tensions remain high.