The Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) in Lahore has rejected bail petitions for Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan in eight cases related to the May 9 violence, including the Jinnah House attack. ATC Judge Manzar Ali Gul announced the decision on Wednesday, keeping the former prime minister in Adiala Jail, where he has been since August last year.
The charges against Khan include attacks on Jinnah House and Askari Tower, arson and vandalism at Shadman police station, and the burning of police vehicles at Rahat Bakery Chowk and Zaman Park. Earlier this month, the Rawalpindi ATC approved a five-day physical remand for Khan in a vandalism case.
This development occurred during a hearing at Adiala Jail, where Khan has been held for over a year. He was arrested in the vandalism case shortly after the Islamabad High Court granted him bail in the Toshakhana case, which involves the alleged illegal sale of state gifts.
The May 9, 2023, events refer to violent protests that erupted across the country following Khan’s arrest, leading to attacks on public properties, including military installations like the Corps Commander House in Lahore, also known as Jinnah House.
Last week, the federal government released exclusive CCTV footage of the May 9 protests, showing PTI protesters vandalizing and torching government and military installations. Information Minister Attaullah Tarar, who presented video and audio messages from PTI leaders at a press conference in Islamabad, called for swift justice based on the undeniable evidence against the former ruling party.