In a significant legal development, the Supreme Court of Pakistan on Thursday granted bail to former Prime Minister Imran Khan in eight cases linked to the May 9, 2023 violence that erupted following his arrest.
The three-member Bench, headed by Chief Justice Afridi and comprising Justices Shafi Siddiqui and Miangul Aurangzeb, heard arguments from Khan’s lawyer Salman Safdar and Punjab Special Prosecutor Zulfiqar Naqvi before delivering the ruling.
Background: May 9 Violence Cases
Khan’s arrest in May 2023 had triggered nationwide protests and vandalism, including attacks on military installations such as the Lahore corps commander’s residence. Several cases were filed against Khan and leaders of his Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party for allegedly inciting the unrest.
The 72-year-old leader had earlier sought bail from an anti-terrorism court in Lahore, which rejected his plea in November 2024. His petition was also dismissed by the Lahore High Court in June 2025, prompting him to move the Supreme Court.
PTI’s Reaction: “Victory for Imran Khan”
Khan’s party welcomed the verdict, declaring it a “Victory For Imran Khan” on social media. PTI’s international spokesman Zulfiqar Bukhari said, “Supreme Court has granted bail to Imran Khan for May 9th cases, now bail is needed for just one more case (Al-Qadir case) for Mr. Khan to come out of jail.”
Why Imran Khan Still Won’t Walk Free
Despite this relief, Khan will remain incarcerated at Rawalpindi’s high-security Adiala Jail due to his conviction in the £190 million Al-Qadir Trust graft case. He has been in prison since August 2023, serving a sentence related to corruption charges that surfaced after his ouster from office in April 2022.
What’s Next?
Legal experts say Thursday’s bail order marks a major step toward Khan’s potential release, but his immediate freedom hinges on securing bail in the Al-Qadir case. Until then, the former premier remains behind bars, even as PTI cadres celebrate what they call a moral victory.
