The Supreme Court has fixed August 12 for hearing Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founding chairman Imran Khan’s bail petitions in eight cases linked to the May 9 riots. A three-member bench, headed by Chief Justice Yahya Afridi and including Justice Muhammad Shafi Siddiqui and Justice Mian Gul Hassan Aurangzeb, will take up the matter. The apex court had earlier postponed the hearing without issuing notices, despite requests from Imran’s legal counsel.
In November 2024, a Lahore anti-terrorism court rejected Imran Khan’s bail in the May 9 cases, which include the attack on the Lahore corps commander’s residence. The Lahore High Court upheld this decision on June 24, prompting the former premier to approach the Supreme Court. His appeal, filed by senior lawyer Salman Safdar, argued that the charges were baseless and politically motivated.
The petition stated that Imran was in National Accountability Bureau custody at the time of the alleged incidents, making his involvement in the unrest impossible. It further claimed that he had been facing an unprecedented campaign of political victimisation since his removal from office in 2022. The plea also accused authorities of using fabricated evidence and unreliable police statements to build the cases.
Meanwhile, the Supreme Court Registrar’s Office has issued a cause list for hearings in eight appeals and sent notices to Imran’s legal team. For the upcoming judicial week, the top court has formed four benches in its Islamabad Registry, two in the Peshawar Registry, and two in the Lahore Registry. These benches will hear various cases, ensuring smooth proceedings across the country’s judicial system.
Separately, the court roster shows that the Peshawar Registry benches will be headed by Justice Jamal Khan Mandokhail and Justice Muhammad Hashim Khan Kakar, while the Lahore Registry benches will be led by Justice Mansoor Ali Shah and Justice Shahid Waheed. In the Islamabad Registry, the bench hearing Imran’s case will be joined by three other benches handling different matters. On Saturday, CJ Yahya Afridi also visited the Polyclinic Hospital for an eye examination as part of a routine medical check-up.