Islamabad (August 21, 2025) – Chief Justice Yahya Afridi on Wednesday made it clear that the Supreme Court of Pakistan will not permit prolonged adjournments in the bail petitions of PTI founder Imran Khan, who faces multiple cases related to the May 9, 2023 incidents.
A three-member bench, headed by Chief Justice Afridi and including Justice Muhammad Shafi Siddiqui and Justice Miangul Hasan Aurangzeb, took up appeals against the Lahore High Court’s (LHC) June 24 ruling that had dismissed Imran Khan’s bail applications.
Court Proceedings
During the hearing, Chief Justice Afridi emphasized that the prosecution must first prove why the LHC’s rejection of bail should be upheld. He stated, “We will hear the prosecution first.”
Special Prosecutor Zulfiqar Naqvi could not attend due to illness, prompting a request for adjournment. However, the Chief Justice refused long delays and rescheduled the matter for Thursday.
Advocate Salman Safdar, representing Imran Khan, strongly opposed repeated delays, noting that the LHC had earlier dismissed bail after six months of pendency with 16 hearings and several prosecutors changed. “The prosecution repeatedly sought adjournments. We are now fed up,” he argued.
Chief Justice Afridi assured the defence that the case will move forward without unnecessary interruptions.
LHC’s Previous Verdict
In its earlier ruling, the LHC bench comprising Justice Shahbaz Ali Rizvi and Justice Tariq Mahmood Bajwa highlighted witness statements from police officials who claimed Imran Khan directed PTI leaders to attack military installations if arrested.
The bench stated that these witness testimonies support charges under Section 120-B (criminal conspiracy) and Section 121-A (conspiracy to wage war against the state) of the Pakistan Penal Code.
The case has attracted strong political and legal attention, as it directly links to the violent protests of May 9, 2023.
