Imran Khan’s Bail Restored in May 9 Violence Cases, but Relief Unlikely Ahead of Polls

Imran Khan's Bail Restored in May 9 Violence Cases, but Relief Unlikely Ahead of Polls

Sabiha Rajpoot | January 23, 2024 | 11:34 PM IST | Pakistan News, Politics, World | Follow on Google News

Imran Khan’s Bail Restored in May 9 Violence Cases, but Relief Unlikely Ahead of Polls

Imran Khan’s Bail Restored in May 9 Violence Cases, but Relief Unlikely Ahead of Polls

A Pakistani court on Tuesday reinstated the bail of former Prime Minister Imran Khan in seven cases related to the May 9 violence on military installations. However, the Lahore High Court’s decision may not provide respite for the 71-year-old leader, founder of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI), ahead of the February 8 general polls, considering the recent challenges faced by his party.

A two-judge bench of the Lahore High Court heard Imran Khan’s petition challenging the Anti-Terrorism Court’s dismissal of his pre-arrest bail petitions in the May 9 cases. Despite the restoration of bail, the Supreme Court’s earlier decision to strip PTI of its iconic cricket ‘bat’ symbol has left Khan and other party candidates to contest as independents.

Imran Khan’s counsel argued that the trial court’s dismissal of bail petitions was in violation of the law, highlighting the petitioner’s inability to appear due to his incarceration. The Lahore High Court reinstated the pre-arrest bail petitions and directed the trial court to mark Khan’s attendance via video link from jail and decide the bail petitions on merit.

The cases against Imran Khan date back to May 9, 2023, when PTI workers engaged in violent protests targeting military installations, including the Lahore Corps Commander’s House and the Army headquarters in Rawalpindi. Despite the bail restoration, the political landscape remains challenging for Khan and PTI, with the Election Commission of Pakistan rejecting their nomination papers. The upcoming general polls will unfold amidst heightened political tensions and legal complexities for the party.

Imran Khan Alleges Targeting and “London Agreement” Favoring Rival Nawaz Sharif

Imran Khan contends that the PTI is being targeted over the May 9 violence and alleges a ‘London agreement,’ suggesting a preference for Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) chief Nawaz Sharif by the powerful Pakistan Army. The political narrative remains complex and contentious as the country approaches the upcoming elections.

Sabiha Rajpoot

Sabiha Rajpoot, a young journalist, having BA- Journalism degree, writes on different scenarios. Sabiha is also a doctor degree at DHMS.