Pakistan’s Supreme Court adjourned on Tuesday a hearing on former Prime Minister Imran Khan’s bail petitions in eight cases stemming from violent protests in May 2023.
The court set the next hearing for Aug. 12.
Khan, the jailed former prime minister of Pakistan and founder of the opposition Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party, had been denied bail in November 2024 by an anti-terrorism court in Lahore in cases linked to the May 9 riots, including an attack on the residence of a top army commander. His appeal was subsequently rejected by the Lahore High Court on June 24.
He then appealed to the Supreme Court last week.
A two-judge bench led by Chief Justice Yahya Afridi and Justice Muhammad Shafi Siddiqui heard the case on Tuesday. PTI Secretary General Salman Akram Raja appeared in court on Khan’s behalf, as lead counsel Salman Safdar was out of the country.
Raja informed the bench that Safdar had requested a postponement and asked the court to issue notices to the parties and reschedule the hearing for next week.
However, the bench rejected the request to issue notices and adjourned the hearing.
Khan’s appeal argues that he was in the custody of the National Accountability Bureau at the time of the alleged violence, making his involvement “impossible.” The petition also claims he has been the target of a political vendetta since his ouster from power in 2022.
The May 9 unrest erupted after Khan’s dramatic arrest by paramilitary forces from a courthouse in Islamabad.
His supporters took to the streets in protest, clashing with security forces and attacking military and government installations. Dozens were killed and thousands arrested, including key PTI leaders.
The government later accused Khan of inciting the violence, an allegation he denies.
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