Islamabad: Supreme Court of Pakistan has approved eight bail applications of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf founder and former prime minister Imran Khan in May 9, 2023 cases. Lahore High Court had rejected the bail applications of Imran Khan, which were challenged by him in Supreme Court of Pakistan. The court has ordered to release the petitioner immediately in eight cases if not required in any other case.

Three-member bench of the Supreme Court headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Yahya Khan Afridi and comprising Justice Syed Hassan Azhar Rizvi and Justice Muhammad Shafi Siddiqui heard the petitions filed by Imran Khan. One change was made in the bench on Thursday while including Syed Hassan Azhar Rizvi and excluding Justice Miangul Hassan Aurangzeb. On behalf of Punjab government Syed Zulfiqar Abbas Naqvi appeared as special prosecutor and Barrister Salman Safdar appeared on behalf of Imran Khan.

During the hearing on Thursday, CJP Yahya Afridi asked special prosecutor Syed Zulfiqar Abbas Naqvi regarding the evidence against the suspect, to which the latter said that three witnesses had testified against Imran Khan, coupled with the availability of photogrammetic and voice matching test.

"WhatsApp messages are also available," Naqvi said, adding that the trial court had approved carrying out various tests but the suspect did not cooperate.

"There will be legal repercussions [for this], why are you saying all that is only going in your favour," CJP Afridi responded.

"Don't seek findings from the Supreme Court. The law itself would provide you with findings. Whatever evidence exists, let it remain in the trial court [proceedings]," the top judge remarked, while further directing the official to seek findings from the trial court instead.

With special prosecutor Naqvi claiming that the evidence linked with the suspect, Justice Rizvi questioned whether any investigation was carried out after his post-arrest bail was approved on May 14 and whether he cooperated with the authorities or not.

"The PTI founder has a central role in all [May 9] cases," stressed the prosecutor.

Meanwhile, the politician's lawyer Barrister Salman Safdar said that the challan in the said eight cases had not been presented against Imran Khan - who he said was only named in three of the FIR and was absent from the rest of the five FIRs.

Noting that if the SC gave an observation on the merits of the case, the trial would be affected by it, CJP Afridi announced the verbal verdict accepting the PTI founder's bail petitions in eight May 9 cases.