Pak court rejects Imran’s bail in May 9 riots cases

A Pakistani court on Tuesday rejected former PM Imran Khan’s petitions seeking post-arrest bail in eight terrorism cases related to the May 9 riots.

Khan, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder, is booked in several cases in Lahore in connection with the May 9, 2023, violence, including for allegedly inciting his supporters to attack government and military buildings, which erupted after his arrest by paramilitary Rangers from the Islamabad High Court premises.

The eight cases include the Jinnah House attack, the Askari Tower attack, the burning of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz office and the setting of Shadman police station on fire. A counsel for Khan said that he would challenge the Lahore HC’s decision in the Supreme Court.

Khan has been in jail for nearly two years in multiple cases.

Separately, his party alleged on Tuesday that Khan has been kept in solitary confinement and his cell’s electricity is cut off.