Supreme Court admits Imran Khan’s plea for judicial inquiry into May 9 events
The Supreme Court (SC) has formally admitted a petition filed by former Prime Minister and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan, seeking a judicial commission to investigate the incidents of May 9. The constitutional bench, presided over by Justice Aminuddin Khan, removed the objections raised by the Registrar’s Office, directing it to assign a case number and schedule the petition for a full hearing.
The seven-member constitutional bench, which includes Justices Jamal Khan Mandokhail, Muhammad Ali Mazhar, Syed Hasan Azhar Rizvi, Naeem Akhtar Afghan, and Shahid Bilal Hassan, heard arguments from PTI’s senior lawyer Hamid Khan. Khan contended that the country was effectively under an undeclared Martial Law, with the army repeatedly called in to “normalize” situations. He added that the May 9 incidents, involving widespread violence and allegations against PTI, required an impartial judicial inquiry.
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Justice Mandokhail, however, challenged the broad claim of Martial Law, suggesting the petitioner should also contest Article 245 of the Constitution, under which the army was deployed. When asked why the matter was not first taken to the high court, Advocate Khan argued that the scope of the issue extended across Pakistan, warranting intervention by the apex court.
Hamid Khan emphasized that PTI was being unfairly targeted, with hundreds of FIRs registered against its leaders and supporters. He stated that an independent judicial inquiry was necessary to uncover the truth behind the events.
Justice Aminuddin directed the government to clarify its position regarding a contempt petition filed against Imran Khan for allegedly violating a court order during the May 2022 long march. Additional Attorney General Amir Rehman confirmed the federal government’s intent to pursue the contempt case, prompting the bench to explore options for presenting the incarcerated former prime minister in court.
PTI Secretary General Salman Akram Raja, representing Khan in the contempt matter, argued that communication disruptions on May 25, 2022, prevented the PTI founder from receiving the court’s oral order. He requested leniency on these grounds. The bench, however, stressed the importance of treating contempt cases strictly as matters between the court and the accused.
Meanwhile, the Lahore Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) rejected Imran Khan’s bail in eight cases related to the May 9 events. Judge Manzar Ali Gul’s six-page verdict cited evidence, including audio and video recordings, implicating Khan in planning and inciting violence. Witnesses testified that the PTI founder, anticipating arrest, orchestrated a conspiracy at Zaman Park, directing his supporters to disrupt state functions and target military and government installations.
The court dismissed the defense’s argument that Khan’s arrest justified bail, emphasizing the gravity of the allegations. The prosecution presented testimony from undercover officers who claimed to have overheard plans for the attacks during secret meetings on May 7 and May 9.
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