Supreme Court to hear PTI founder’s bail appeals on August 12

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court of Pakistan scheduled the hearing of bail appeals filed by the founder of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Imran Khan for August 12.

A three-member bench was constituted to hear the appeals, headed by Chief Justice Yahya Afridi, with Justices Shafi Siddiqui and Gul Hassan Aurangzeb included in the panel.

Read more: May 9: Fawad Chaudry slams PTI, judiciary after ATC hearing

The hearing was previously adjourned due to the absence of Imran Khan’s primary legal counsel, Salman Safdar, who was out of the country.

The Registrar’s Office issued a notice to the legal team of the former prime minister, announcing the new date and bench composition.

PTI disowns Gohar’s statement calling May 9 ‘wrong’

The bail appeals arise from multiple cases related to the violent incidents on May 9, 2023 when protests and riots occurred throughout Pakistan.

The Lahore High Court (LHC) earlier denied Imran Khan post-arrest bail, citing evidence of his involvement in orchestrating violence, including attacks on military installations such as the Lahore corps commander’s residence.

Imran Khan’s legal team submitted the appeals to the Supreme Court challenging the LHC’s rejection and sought bail on the grounds that at the time of the incident, Imran Khan was in custody of the National Accountability Bureau (NAB), making his involvement impossible.

The appeals also argue that the prosecution relied on conflicting and unreliable evidence, characterising the case as “politically motivated”.

Read more: Three PTI leaders removed from NA posts

The Supreme Court initially formed a two-member bench led by Chief Justice Afridi to hear the appeals. However, the bench as reconstituted to include an additional justice, Justice Gul Hassan Aurangzeb, ahead of the scheduled August hearing.