Pakistan’s Supreme Court on Thursday granted bail to former Prime Minister Imran Khan in several cases linked to the “anti-government violence” of May 2023, Pakistan media reported.
The move comes weeks after multiple top leaders of his party were convicted and disqualified over the same incidents.
The unrest followed Khan’s brief arrest in Islamabad on May 9, 2023, on corruption charges, triggering widespread violence as his supporters targeted government offices and military installations. Thousands of PTI members and supporters were detained in the aftermath, with hundreds facing anti-terrorism charges, and some cases transferred to military courts.
Geo TV reported that a three-member bench, led by Chief Justice Yahya Afridi, approved bail for Khan in eight cases connected to the May 9 events.
Khan has denied involvement in the violence, insisting the charges are politically motivated and that he was not in custody when the unrest occurred.
PTI has also rejected accusations of orchestrating the violence, calling the terrorism charges unfounded.
Earlier this month, anti-terrorism courts sentenced senior PTI leaders linked to the violence, leading to their disqualification by the election commission. PTI described Thursday’s ruling as a significant step forward, noting that Khan now requires bail in only one remaining case to secure his release after more than two years in jail.
