Imran Khan’s Legal Fate Hangs on High Courts

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Former Prime Minister Imran Khan’s legal battles intensify as high courts review his five convictions, with his team alleging violations of fair trial rights under Article 10-A of Pakistan’s Constitution.

Since his ouster in April 2022, former Prime Minister Imran Khan, leader of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), has faced relentless legal challenges, with convictions in five cases since August 5, 2023, none of which have been upheld by Pakistan’s high courts. His legal team, led by advocates like Salman Safdar, consistently argues that these trials violate Article 10-A of the Constitution of Pakistan, which guarantees the right to a fair trial. The first conviction, in the Toshakhana case, resulted in a three-year sentence for allegedly concealing assets from state gifts. Lawyers, including Faisal Siddiqi, criticized the trial court’s haste, noting it skipped key defense witnesses and final arguments by Khan’s counsel, Khawaja Haris, raising serious doubts about due process.

The Islamabad High Court (IHC), under then-Chief Justice Aamer Farooq, suspended the Toshakhana verdict, but the appeal remains pending. Khan’s convictions in the Cypher case, involving alleged misuse of a diplomatic document, and the Iddat case, concerning his marriage to Bushra Bibi, were overturned by the IHC, citing flawed proceedings. Two ongoing trials in Adiala Jail, related to Toshakhana and the May 9, 2023, riots, face similar scrutiny. The Lahore High Court (LHC) rejected Khan’s bail in the riot cases on June 24, 2025, prompting an appeal to the Supreme Court of Pakistan (SC), set for August 12. Safdar argues the prosecution’s evidence, including contradictory police statements, lacks credibility and reflects political motives.

The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) claims these cases are orchestrated to prolong Khan’s detention, pointing to the state’s failure to act on alleged conspiracies for over a year. Public support for Khan has surged, fueled by perceptions of injustice, despite PTI’s struggle to secure his release. The Supreme Court’s May 2, 2025, ruling granting bail to a co-accused in similar cases bolsters Khan’s case. However, the government’s firm stance, backed by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, who criticized the judiciary’s rulings as biased, underscores the political tension. The judiciary’s handling of Khan’s appeals will test Pakistan’s commitment to constitutional fairness, with the nation watching closely.