ATC Rejects Bail Plea of Imran Khan in Jinnah House Attack Case

An Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) has issued a seven-page written judgment rejecting the bail application of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder and former Prime Minister Imran Khan in the Jinnah House attack case.

Judge Manzar Ali Gul, in the ruling, underscored Khan’s influential role as a party leader, stating that his directives significantly shaped the actions of PTI members and supporters. The court concluded that Khan bore culpability in the case, leaving no grounds for granting bail.

The judgment detailed the events of May 9, 2023, when countrywide demonstrations erupted following Khan’s arrest by paramilitary forces on the National Accountability Bureau’s (NAB) orders in a corruption case. The protests saw extensive arson and vandalism targeting military installations, government institutions, and police officials, while sparing private property.

Prosecutors argued that the attack on Jinnah House, the residence of the Lahore Corps Commander, was part of a conspiracy allegedly orchestrated at Khan’s Zaman Park residence. They reported that valuable items were destroyed in the fire, and law enforcement recovered petrol bombs and batons from 50 arrested suspects, while many others managed to evade capture.

The ruling follows the ATC’s earlier dismissal of bail applications from Khan in this and seven other cases on November 27.

The events of May 9, marked by attacks on sensitive military sites such as the General Headquarters (GHQ) in Rawalpindi and the Lahore Corps Commander’s House, prompted strong condemnation. In response, the civil and military leadership resolved to impose exemplary punishment under relevant laws, including the Army Act, on those involved in arson, vandalism, and desecration of martyrs’ monuments.

The court’s decision represents a significant legal setback for Imran Khan amid ongoing legal battles tied to the political and social unrest following his arrest.