ATC rejects bail plea of Imran Khan in 8 cases related to May 9 riots

The Lahore Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) has rejected the post-arrest bail applications of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan in eight cases related to the violent events of May 9. The decision was made after hearing arguments from both the prosecution and Khan's legal team.

Khan's lawyer, Barrister Salman Safdar, argued that his client was in jail when the May 9 incidents occurred and that the protests were a result of public reaction to his client's remarks.

The defence further claimed that Khan had been involved in numerous cases, some of which had already been dismissed, and that any accusations against him were politically motivated.

Barrister Safdar noted that the allegations against Khan were part of a broader narrative that had been constantly changing. He referred to the cases involving the cypher controversy, claiming that the legal team had already secured relief in those matters through the courts. 

He also criticised the government's inconsistent handling of the allegations, stating that accusations of a conspiracy against the state had not been substantiated.

Furthermore, Safdar stated that he was not seeking discharge or dismissal of the cases but was requesting bail, citing that Khan had been in custody for an extended period.

He referred to past cases, such as that of former president Pervez Musharraf, to argue that medical evidence and judicial scrutiny would eventually clear Khan's name.

On the other hand, the prosecution strongly opposed the bail applications, arguing that the charges against Khan were severe, including sedition and attacks on sensitive military installations. He claimed that Khan’s statements had incited violence and led to the assault on military and police personnel. 

Special Prosecutor Rao Abdul Jabbar stressed that these attacks, which included desecration of war memorials and assault on military bases, were not random but well-coordinated acts of aggression, instigated by Khan's rhetoric.

He also pointed out that the scale of the violence and the use of modern communication tools for planning made the situation even more serious.

The prosecutor added that the prosecution had substantial evidence, including the involvement of social media in promoting the violence. He criticised Khan's claim of being in jail during the attacks, stressing that he had used his influence to instigate the violence.

After hearing both sides, the court reserved its verdict. In a subsequent ruling, the ATC dismissed Khan's bail applications in all eight cases related to the May 9 violence.

Khan’s legal team had previously argued that the charges against him were politically motivated and that the cases were being used to suppress his party and political movement. However, the prosecution maintained that the severity of the charges warranted Khan’s continued detention.