LAHORE, Jan 12: Imran Khan, the former Prime Minister of Pakistan who is currently imprisoned, has approached the Lahore High Court to request post-arrest bail in eight cases associated with the violence that occurred on May 9, 2023. This includes incidents such as the assault on the home of a senior army officer.
Khan submitted separate bail petitions to the LHC on Saturday.
In November of the previous year, an anti-terrorism court in Lahore had denied him bail in these cases.
The 72-year-old Khan contends in his petitions that the prosecution has not adequately demonstrated his involvement in the violent events that unfolded on May 9, which followed his arrest.
On that day, demonstrations erupted after Khan was taken into custody by paramilitary Rangers outside the Islamabad High Court. Supporters of his party vandalized numerous military facilities, including the Jinnah House in Lahore, the Mianwali airbase, and the ISI building in Faisalabad. The Army Headquarters in Rawalpindi was also targeted by the protestors.
Khan argues that he has been framed in the May 9 incidents as part of a “well-orchestrated plan” aimed at politically victimizing him.
He claims that the only accusation against him in these cases is the vague charge of “abetment.”
“The trial judge ignored the fact that baseless and frivolous allegations regarding the May 9 events have already been dismissed due to discrepancies in the accounts provided by the investigating agency. I have been subject to unprecedented political persecution for the past two years. These May 9 cases represent yet another attempt by the state and police to involve me in criminal activities based solely on the claim of abetment,” he asserted, urging the LHC to overturn the trial court’s ruling and grant him post-arrest bail.
Khan is reportedly facing accusations in 12 cases related to the May 9 disturbances, although he has already obtained bail in four of them.
The LHC is expected to address Khan’s petition on Monday. He has been incarcerated in various cases since August 2023. (PTI)
