Supreme Court Questions LHC Observations In Imran’s Bail Case

Lahore – (Special Correspondent / Web Desk) – Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Yahya Afridi on Tuesday raised concerns about some remarks made by the Lahore High Court (LHC) while rejecting former prime minister Imran Khan’s bail pleas in eight cases linked to the May 9 incidents.

In November 2024, an anti-terrorism court in Lahore had refused to grant Imran Khan bail in cases related to the May 9, 2023 riots, including the attack on the residence of the Lahore corps commander. Imran’s appeal against this decision was also turned down by the LHC on June 24. Days later, the PTI founder approached the Supreme Court, challenging the high court’s verdict.

A three-member Supreme Court bench, headed by CJP Afridi and comprising Justices Muhammad Shafi Siddiqui and Miangul Hassan Aurangzeb, resumed the hearing of Imran’s bail pleas today. Barrister Salman Safdar represented Imran Khan, while Punjab’s Special Prosecutor Zulfiqar Naqvi appeared for the state.

During the proceedings, CJP Afridi pointed out certain “findings” in the LHC’s detailed judgment that dismissed Imran’s bail applications. He questioned, “Can final observations be given in a bail case?” The chief justice added that the Supreme Court would not comment on the correctness of these findings at this stage to avoid influencing either party’s case.

CJP Afridi directed both sides to prepare their legal arguments and assist the court in the next hearing. “The Supreme Court will not make any observations that could affect the case,” he stressed. At one point, when Barrister Safdar requested to speak at the rostrum, the chief justice declined. The bench then issued notices to the Punjab government and adjourned the hearing until August 19.

Claims of False and Fabricated Evidence

Earlier, a two-member bench of the Supreme Court had taken up Imran’s bail pleas on June 29 but adjourned the matter without notices as his lawyer was unavailable. In the fresh appeal, Imran Khan’s legal team argued that he was accused of planning and encouraging the May 9 violence, but at the time of the alleged events, he was already in the custody of the National Accountability Bureau (NAB). This, they said, made his involvement “impossible.”

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The appeal further claimed that the LHC relied on “false and fabricated evidence,” including outdated and discredited statements from police officials. However, in its detailed verdict, the LHC bench—comprising Justice Syed Shahbaz Ali Rizvi and Justice Tariq Mahmood Bajwa—said the prosecution had credible evidence linking Imran to the May 9 unrest.

The court cited statements from two police officials and prosecution witnesses who claimed they attended PTI meetings in secret. They alleged that Imran Khan instructed party leaders to attack military installations if he was arrested by the Islamabad High Court. These meetings were said to have taken place at a rest area in Chakri, Rawalpindi, on May 4, and at Imran’s Zaman Park residence in Lahore between May 7 and 9, 2023.