The Lahore High Court on Thursday nullified the physical remand orders of former Prime Minister Imran Khan in 12 cases related to the May 9 incidents, ruling in his favor.
During the hearing, prosecutors argued for a polygraph test for Khan, which he had previously refused. Justice Tariq Saleem Sheikh questioned why such tests were not conducted during interim bail periods and criticized the timing of the remand requests, which coincided with Khan’s anticipated release.
Imran Khan’s lawyer, Salman Safdar, argued that the defense was unaware of many of the cases, and bail was neither sought nor granted in those instances. Justice Anwarul Haq Pannu noted the recurrent practice of re-arresting Khan upon receiving bail in other cases and questioned the prosecutors’ delay in acting on older cases.
The court criticized the necessity and timing of the physical remand, noting that Khan was already in judicial custody and that investigation officers had ample time over the past year to act on these cases.
After completing the arguments, the court nullified the anti-terrorism court’s decision to grant physical remand and also canceled the notification for Khan’s video link attendance.
