Lahore:
The High Court of Lahore rejected on Tuesday rejected surety petitions filed by the founder of Pakistan Tehreek-E-insaf (PTI), Imran Khan, in eight cases linked to May 9, 2023, riots, causing strong criticism from the party, which described the decision as a “miscarriage of justice”.
The decision, issued by a bench of two members led by judge Shahbaz Ali Rizvi, followed the conclusion of the arguments of the pursuit and the defense.
Imran’s legal team had argued that the former Prime Minister was involved without credible evidence when he was already in detention and denied any involvement in violence.
The May 9 disorders broke out nationally after Khan’s arrest in a transplant case and included attacks on civil and military installations, including the Jinnah house in Lahore.
The accusation said that Khan prompted supporters to target military facilities and cited forensic evidence, including audio recordings, which Khan would have refused to check vocal correspondence.
The PTI legal adviser argued that the accusations were politically motivated and on the basis of waves allegations of complicity. They argued that business was part of a wider campaign to discredit the party and its leader.
In a strongly written statement, PTI Punjab expressed a deep disappointment, accusing the judiciary to operate under political influence.
“The courts have not respected the principles of justice,” said the party, promising to continue its legal struggle and launch a peaceful protest movement demanding democratic restoration and the release of political prisoners.
Imran, who has been imprisoned since August 2023 after several convictions, remains a central figure in Pakistani policy despite his evidence in April 2022 by a vote without confidence. Several PTI managers and workers remain incarcerated during the May 9 incidents, while others were endorsed.
The Party maintains that current actions in progress are an attempt to dismantle the greatest political force in the country before critical political transitions.
