ATC grants bail to Imran Khan’s nephew Shahrez in May 9 case

An anti-terrorism court (ATC) in Lahore on Wednesday granted post-arrest bail to Shahrez Khan, the nephew of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan, in connection with the May 9 Jinnah House attack case.

ATC Judge Manzar Ali Gill announced the reserved verdict after hearing arguments from both the defence and prosecution. The court accepted the bail petition and ordered Shahrez’s release.

During the hearing, defence counsel Rana Mudassar maintained that Shahrez had been falsely implicated. He argued that geofencing data and police investigation reports did not place Shahrez at the scene.

Read: Lahore ATC sends Imran's nephew on eight-day physical remand in May 9 case

The court was also presented with sworn affidavits asserting that Shahrez was in Chitral from May 6 to 12.

The defence further pointed out that over 500 co-accused in the case had already been granted bail.

The prosecution opposed the plea, citing social media photographs allegedly linking Shahrez to the protests. However, the court was informed that none of the images were recovered from Shahrez’s personal accounts.

Shahrez’s parents, Aleema Khan and Sohail Amir, were also present in court during the proceedings.

Also read: Shahrez Khan sent to jail on judicial remand in May 9 case

He was arrested on August 21 from his mother’s residence. PTI later claimed that during the raid, household staff were assaulted and family members harassed. His brother, Shershah Khan, was also detained a day later.

Shahrez was sent on judicial remand four days prior to the bail verdict. He had been booked under anti-terrorism charges by Sarwar Road Police for his alleged role in the attack on Lahore’s historic Jinnah House during the May 9 riots that followed Imran Khan’s brief arrest.