ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court of Pakistan has reconstituted a new bench to hear the appeal petitions filed by PTI founder Imran Khan in connection with the May 9 incidents, replacing the earlier two-member bench with a three-member panel. The fresh bench will take up the matter on August 12.
The decision to form a new bench comes as part of a broader reshuffling of judicial panels in sensitive political cases. The reconstituted bench will now be headed by Chief Justice Yahya Afridi, with Justice Shafi Siddiqui and Justice Miangul Hassan Aurangzeb as its other members.
This change follows the Supreme Court’s previous decision to postpone the hearing on Imran Khan’s bail appeal that were originally scheduled earlier—after his lead counsel, Salman Safdar, requested an adjournment. The court had accepted the request and set a new hearing date for August 12.
The petitions in question challenge the Lahore High Court’s decisions that denied Imran Khan post-arrest bail in multiple cases related to the violent protests that broke out across the country on May 9, 2023, following his initial arrest.
The protests had resulted in widespread damage to public and military properties, including attacks on army installations, and led to a severe crackdown on PTI leadership and workers. Dozens of cases were registered against the former prime minister, many of which carry terrorism and sedition-related charges.
The Supreme Court’s decision to expand the bench size suggests a recognition of the complexity and political sensitivity of the cases, particularly at a time when the PTI is planning nationwide protests, including a major one announced for August 5.
The outcome of these appeals could have significant political and legal ramifications, not just for Imran Khan’s legal standing, but also for PTI’s future role in Pakistan’s democratic process.
