The Lahore High Court (LHC) on Thursday ruled that former Prime Minister Imran Khan was involved in orchestrating the events of May 9, 2023, rejecting his post-arrest bail plea. The court determined there was enough evidence to support charges of criminal conspiracy and abetment.
According to the written judgment, testimonies from Inspector Ismat Kamal and ASI Hassan Afzal implicated Imran in planning meetings held on May 4 at Chakri Rest Area in Rawalpindi, and on May 7 and 9 in Lahore. These accounts, the court noted, challenge the claim that Imran was incarcerated during the violence and lend weight to his alleged involvement.
The court observed that the statements warranted the application of Sections 120-B and 121-A of the Pakistan Penal Code, which pertain to criminal conspiracy and abetment of mutiny — both serious offences with heavy legal implications.
During proceedings, the bench noted that Imran’s prior conviction in the Al-Qadir Trust case was not disputed and added that his alleged directives had contributed to the loss of lives and destruction of public property.
Prosecutors submitted audio and video evidence, along with PEMRA-prepared transcripts, all of which are subject to forensic scrutiny. Authorities also sought and received permission to conduct photogrammetry, polygraph, and voice-matching tests in jail. However, the court was informed that Imran consistently refused to participate, stalling the investigation.
Citing the prohibitory clause of Section 497 of the Code of Criminal Procedure — which limits bail in serious criminal cases — the LHC said no fresh grounds existed to merit further inquiry or bail.
“Considering all circumstances collectively, we find no justification to grant post-arrest bail to the petitioner,” the court ruled, dismissing the application.
