LAHORE – The Lahore High Court (LHC) on Thursday dismissed former prime minister Imran Khan’s post-arrest bail request, ruling that there is enough evidence to link him to the May 9, 2023, violence conspiracy.
The court based its decision on statements from two police officers—Inspector Ismat Kamal and ASI Hassan Afzal—who confirmed Imran’s involvement in meetings held on May 4, 7, and 9. These meetings allegedly planned the unrest, weakening the claim that Imran was in jail during the riots.
The judgment noted that these testimonies invoke Sections 120-B and 121-A of the Pakistan Penal Code, which relate to criminal conspiracy and incitement to mutiny. Both charges carry serious legal consequences, including denial of bail under the law.
During the hearing, the court also acknowledged Imran’s prior conviction in the Al-Qadir Trust case. It stated that his actions and statements resulted in the loss of lives and damage to state property during the nationwide protests.
Prosecutors presented audio and video recordings along with PEMRA transcripts as evidence. They also obtained court approval for forensic tests, including polygraph and voice matching. However, officials said Imran repeatedly refused to cooperate, delaying the investigation.
Ultimately, the court ruled that the case falls under the prohibitory clause of Section 497 of the CrPC. It concluded that no new grounds were present to justify bail, and therefore, rejected Imran Khan’s plea outright.