The Lahore High Court has rejected the bail applications of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder in eight cases related to the violent protests and arson that erupted across the country on May 9, 2023.

A two-member bench led by Justice Shahbaz Rizvi announced the reserved verdict on Tuesday, turning down PTI founder’s bail petitions in connection with multiple high-profile incidents, including the attack on Lahore’s Jinnah House and other cases of vandalism.

The court had reserved its decision a day earlier after hearing arguments from both sides.

The petitions, filed on January 15 through Barrister Salman Safdar, sought pre-arrest bail for the PTI founder in eight separate cases.

These cases involve allegations of arson and destruction at key locations including the Jinnah House (residence of the Lahore Corps Commander), Askari Tower, Shadman Police Station, and near Rahat Bakery, among others.

The PTI founder has been directly nominated in several of these FIRs, while in others he was later implicated through supplementary statements.

The violence on May 9, 2023, was triggered by PTI founder’s dramatic arrest in the Al Qadir Trust case from within the Islamabad High Court premises.

His detention sparked nationwide protests by PTI supporters, during which military installations, public property, and private assets were attacked or set on fire.

At least eight people were killed and around 290 were injured in the unrest.

In Lahore, demonstrators stormed the Corps Commander’s residence (Jinnah House) and in Rawalpindi, they breached a gate of the General Headquarters (GHQ).

In the aftermath, law enforcement agencies arrested over 1,900 individuals linked to the violence, and dozens of cases were filed against PTI leaders and workers, including the party founder.