Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan on Saturday moved the Lahore High Court seeking bail in connection with eight cases related to the events of May 9, 2023.

The petition, filed by Khan’s legal team, specifically includes the high-profile case concerning the attack on Jinnah House, the residence of the Corps Commander in Lahore.

Khan’s lawyer argued in the petition that the PTI leader was in the custody of the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) in Islamabad on May 9, the day of the widespread protests triggered by his arrest. The lawyer contended that the cases filed against Khan were politically motivated, alleging a conspiracy aimed at political revenge.

The petition claims that Khan has been embroiled in legal battles for the past two years, and these cases are part of a broader scheme of political retaliation. His legal team has requested that the Lahore High Court grant bail in the eight cases and order his immediate release.

It is noteworthy that the Lahore Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) had previously rejected Khan’s bail applications in these eight cases. Of the 12 cases filed against the former prime minister in Lahore in relation to the May 9 incidents, bail has been granted in four cases thus far.

Background

Imran Khan was arrested on May 9, 2023, from the Islamabad High Court in connection with the Al-Qadir Trust case. His detention led to a wave of nationwide protests orchestrated by PTI supporters.

Demonstrators stormed military, civil, and private installations, setting fire to key government and private properties. The violence resulted in at least eight deaths and over 290 injuries.

Among the most significant incidents during the protests was the storming of Jinnah House in Lahore, where protesters ransacked the residence of the Corps Commander.

Protesters also breached the gates of the General Headquarters (GHQ) in Rawalpindi. In the aftermath, over 1,900 individuals involved in violent clashes and arson were arrested, while a series of criminal cases were registered against Imran Khan and several PTI members.