A Lahore anti-terrorism court (ATC) on Tuesday announced its reserved verdict on pre-arrest bail petitions of PTI founder Imran Khan in three cases related to the May 9 riots and dismissed them.

May 9 holds significant importance in the country’s political landscape, as it was on this day last year when military installations were attacked following Imran’s arrest from the Islamabad High Court’s (IHC) premises, which formed the basis of a severe state crackdown against him and his party.

Arising from the scenario were three cases, among many against Imran, concerning attacks on the Jinnah House, also the residence of the Lahore corps commander, Askari Tower and Shadman police station. The ATC had reserved its verdict on bail petitions about the cases on Saturday.

Imran is currently serving out his sentence in the Iddat case at Adiala Jail. His sentences in the two Toshakhana cases were suspended while he was acquitted by the Islamabad High Court in the cipher case.

However, an Islamabad district and sessions court had turned down the pleas of the PTI founder and his wife to suspend their seven-year sentences in the Iddat case.

Earlier on March 1, an ATC had confirmed Imran’s pre-arrest bail in four cases, including party worker Zille Shah’s murder, attack on police outside Zaman Park and setting fire to PML-N offices in Model Town and a container at Kalma Chowk on May 9, 2023.

The trial court had previously in August, 2023, dismissed the pre-arrest bail pleas of the PTI founding chairman in seven criminal cases over his non-appearance, after he was jailed in the Toshakhana case.

Later, the Lahore High Court had set aside the ATC decision and restored Imran’s bail petitions with a direction to the trial court to decide all the petitions afresh on merit.

The PML-N government has already spoken its mind about keeping Imran in jail for its five-year term till 2029 for “economic stability”.

“People come to us and tell us if Pakistan has to progress then Imran Khan will have to be kept in jail for five years,” Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal said while talking to reporters last month.

He had said that if Imran came out of jail then there would be again sit-ins and fight and the country could not afford this.

“There is a voice of the people [that] Imran Khan should remain in jail for five years,” he had said

Opinion

Editorial

Soaring again
Updated 18 Jul, 2025

Soaring again

The lifting of the ban by the UK will lead to several welcome developments.
Terror in Kalat
18 Jul, 2025

Terror in Kalat

THE unrest in Balochistan is increasingly taking on an ugly and dangerous colour, with repeated, indiscriminate...
Economic exclusion
18 Jul, 2025

Economic exclusion

FOR all the progress made in Pakistan towards the inclusion of women across the sociopolitical divide, comprehensive...
Digital gaps
Updated 17 Jul, 2025

Digital gaps

Digital technology affords Pakistan a unique opportunity to transform itself into a dynamic digital economy.
A grave matter
17 Jul, 2025

A grave matter

IT is a weighty issue, and one which many would not touch with a barge pole, primarily out of concern for...
Vaccine paradox
17 Jul, 2025

Vaccine paradox

PAKISTAN has recorded its highest-ever coverage of the DTP vaccine — protecting children against diphtheria,...