Judge orders all case files to be produced by February 24 and orders all investigating officers to appear as well
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf founder Imran Khan. Photo: File
ISLAMABAD:
A district and sessions court in Islamabad on Wednesday directed jailed former prime minister Imran Khan to appear either in person or via video link at the next hearing of six cases filed against him.
The hearings at the District and Sessions Court included five cases related to the May 9 riots in which former minister Shah Nawaz Ranjha was allegedly targeted in an assassination attempt, as well as a separate case involving alleged fake receipts.
Additional Sessions Judge Afzal Majoka presided over the case. Imran was represented by lawyers Salman Safdar and Khalid Yousaf Chaudhry. His sisters, Aleema Khan, Uzma Khan and Noreen Niazi, were also present in court.
Presenting arguments on six bail applications, Safdar said Imran had secured leniency in earlier hearings and criticized what he described as the government’s lack of follow-up in the cases.
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“If the founder and Bushra Bibi are not produced here, Adiala jail is available. If they are not produced, the superintendent of the jail should appear,” Safdar told the court.
He also referred to Khan’s health concerns, saying stress can affect eyesight, and urged the court to issue a ruling on the applications on Wednesday.
Justice Majoka sought clarification on which bail pleas had been rejected earlier, after which Safdar outlined four instances. The prosecution requested time to prepare its arguments and wanted a new date for hearing.
Safdar further criticized the absence of investigating officers, saying they had not appeared in court or conducted necessary investigations.
The court ordered that complete records of all cases be produced by February 24 and directed the investigating officers to appear with the records at the next hearing. The case was adjourned until February 24.
9 May Riots
The May 9 riots broke out across the country following the arrest of former Prime Minister Imran Khan, after which PTI leaders and workers staged protests targeting both civilian and military installations, including Jinnah House and the General Headquarters (GHQ) in Rawalpindi.
The military condemned the events as a “black day” and decided to try the protesters under the Army Act. As a result of the unrest, many PTI members were arrested and tried by military courts. In December, a military court convicted 25 people, including Imran Khan’s nephew, Hassan Khan Niazi, and later sentenced 60 more.
In January 2025, 19 convicts had their sentences commuted after successful clemency appeals, although the PTI expressed dissatisfaction with the limited number of pardons.
The military trials had initially been halted following a Supreme Court ruling, but were resumed following court instructions to conclude pending cases and announce sentences for those involved in the violent incidents.
