Pakistan Supreme Court to Hear Imran Khan’s Petition on May 9 Events

Islamabad [Pakistan], December 7: The Supreme Court of Pakistan has scheduled a hearing on December 10 for a petition filed by PTI founder and former Prime Minister Imran Khan, seeking the formation of a judicial commission to investigate the events of May 9, 2023. A seven-member constitutional bench led by Justice Aminuddin Khan will preside over the case, according to a Supreme Court cause list issued on Friday, as reported by Dawn.

Imran Khan’s Petition and Demands

The petition is based on Khan’s demand for a judicial probe into two key events:

1. May 9 riots that erupted following his arrest.
2. November 26 PTI protest, referred to as the party’s “final call.”

On Thursday, Imran Khan announced via his X account the formation of a five-member negotiating committee to address these demands and engage with the government. The committee includes:

• Omar Ayub Khan
• Ali Amin Gandapur
• Sahibzada Hamid Raza
• Salman Akram Raja
• Asad Qaiser

Khan reiterated his demands on Friday, calling for:

• A judicial commission under senior Supreme Court judges for an independent inquiry into the events of May 9 and November 26.
• The release of unjustly imprisoned political prisoners.

Warning of Civil Disobedience

Imran Khan warned of escalatory measures if the demands are not met:
“Civil disobedience, reduction of remittances, and a boycott movement will be initiated,” he stated.

The May 9 riots, triggered by Khan’s arrest, lasted over 24 hours and resulted in widespread unrest across Pakistan, highlighting deep political tensions in the country.

Additional Hearing Scheduled

The Supreme Court has also scheduled another hearing on December 11 for a separate petition filed by Imran Khan, alleging rigging in the February general elections.

The outcomes of these hearings are expected to have significant implications for Pakistan’s political landscape.