- Lahore’s Anti-Terrorism Court dismisses Imran Khan’s bail pleas.
- Verdict links Khan to May 9 riots, dismisses political victimization claims.
- Khan remains imprisoned amid multiple ongoing charges.
An anti-terrorism court (ATC) in Lahore dismissed former Prime Minister Imran Khan’s allegations of “political victimization” regarding the May 9, 2023 riots. The court’s four-page verdict, issued by Judge Khalid Arshad, stated there were “reasonable grounds” to connect Khan with the offenses committed during the riots. This decision came as the court turned down pleas to extend interim bails granted to Khan in three related cases.
The May 9 riots erupted following Khan’s arrest in a corruption case, with alleged supporters attacking state buildings, including military installations. Authorities responded by applying the Army Act to the rioters. The court’s verdict included testimonies from two witnesses who attended a May 7, 2023 meeting at Khan’s residence. They claimed Khan expressed fears about his arrest and instructed party leaders to mobilize supporters and attack military installations if detained.
The court referenced a video message by Khan, where he predicted worsening conditions if he were arrested, similar to Sri Lanka. This video was presented as evidence by the prosecution. The verdict indicated that Khan’s actions amounted to a criminal conspiracy to incite violence and disrupt the government.
The court also rejected Khan’s claims of political victimization, stating the allegations lacked credibility. It highlighted that individuals who conspire to commit acts of terrorism lose their rights as law-abiding citizens. Consequently, the court concluded that Khan’s pre-arrest bail had no merit and withdrew his interim bail.
Imran Khan, ousted from power in April 2022, faces numerous charges, including corruption and terrorism. He has been imprisoned since August last year, following convictions in multiple cases. Although he secured relief in some cases, such as the Toshakhana case, he remains in jail due to his conviction in the iddat case.
The rejection of Khan’s bail pleas dampened PTI’s hopes for his release. The government emphasized the necessity of his arrest for interrogation in the Jinnah House case. Khan and his wife, Bushra Bibi, are currently serving seven-year jail terms each at Rawalpindi’s Adiala Jail for the iddat case. Last month, their appeals to suspend the sentences were also denied.
