SRINAGAR: The Supreme Court of Pakistan granted bail to former Prime Minister Imran Khan on August 21, 2025, in eight cases linked to the violence and unrest that erupted on May 9, 2023. These incidents followed Khan’s arrest in Islamabad and resulted in widespread protests, vandalism, and attacks on military and government installations across the country, the Indian Express reported.
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A three-member bench led by Chief Justice Yahya Afridi, with Justices Muhammad Shafi Siddiqui and Miangul Hassan Aurangzeb, issued the ruling after hearing arguments from Khan’s lawyer and the state prosecutor. The court found that indictments had not been formally filed in any of the eight cases, nor were charge sheets submitted, which led to the decision to grant bail.
Despite this relief, Imran Khan will not be released immediately from prison, as he remains incarcerated under a conviction in the Al-Qadir Trust corruption case and faces additional legal proceedings. His bail pleas in these cases were previously dismissed by the Lahore High Court, prompting him to seek relief from the Supreme Court.
Khan’s political party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), hailed the Supreme Court’s decision as a victory, emphasizing that he now only needs bail in one remaining case before being eligible for release. However, given his other convictions and pending trials, Khan’s release is not imminent.
The Supreme Court’s decision highlights the ongoing political and legal turbulence in Pakistan, where Imran Khan continues to be a prominent and polarizing figure even after his ouster as prime minister in April 2022. The ruling adds a new chapter to the complex and contentious aftermath of the May 9 protests, which remain a point of deep political division in the country