Imran Khan may get bail on June 11: PTI chief Gohar Ali Khan signals shift in power dynamics with Pakistan army
PTC Web Desk: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairman Gohar Ali Khan has hinted at a potential breakthrough in the ongoing legal saga of jailed former Prime Minister Imran Khan, suggesting that Khan is likely to be granted bail on June 11. The remarks have sparked speculation about a possible shift in the power struggle between Khan and Army chief General Asim Munir.
Imran Khan, who has been imprisoned since August 2023, is currently held in Adiala Jail, Rawalpindi, facing multiple legal cases, most notably the Al-Qadir Trust case. The Islamabad High Court (IHC) is scheduled to hear petitions seeking the suspension of sentences for both Khan and his wife, Bushra Bibi, on June 11 — a date Gohar Ali Khan describes as “critical.”
In his latest comments, Gohar Ali Khan stated that “no compromises will be made for Khan’s release,” emphasising the PTI’s firm stance. His assertion comes amid reports of behind-the-scenes negotiations for Khan’s freedom — talks that Khan himself has denied, branding them as attempts to weaken the movement against what he calls “mandate thieves.”
Notably, Gohar’s statement follows Khan’s recent announcement naming himself Patron-in-Chief of PTI and vowing to lead mass protests from his prison cell. This defiant move appears to be increasing pressure on the Pakistani establishment, especially the military leadership.
Observers believe Gohar’s confident prediction is not merely legal optimism but a signal that Army Chief Asim Munir may be softening his stance. Munir, widely seen as the architect of Khan’s political downfall, is facing growing domestic pressure following India’s Operation Sindoor, a precise retaliatory strike launched in response to the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam that killed 26 civilians.
The operation reportedly exposed weaknesses in Pakistan’s military preparedness, raising internal and international scrutiny. The move to elevate Munir to Field Marshal shortly after was seen by many analysts as a face-saving measure, not a triumph of strategy.
Adding to the controversy is the continued imprisonment of Bushra Bibi, Khan’s wife, who was sentenced to 14 years in January 2024 for her role in the Toshakhana case, involving the alleged illegal retention and sale of state gifts. Khan has described her detention as “vindictive and inhumane,” directly blaming General Munir for what he calls “personal vengeance.”
Khan's legal team insists that both he and Bushra Bibi are innocent, and that the charges are politically motivated, aimed at neutralising his popularity ahead of future elections.
In a strategic escalation, Imran Khan has directed his party to prepare for a nationwide protest movement from June 11 onward, should the courts deny him bail. The PTI has already demonstrated its capability to mobilise mass support, as seen during the siege of Islamabad in November 2024, and plans to expand its resistance in the coming weeks.
- With inputs from agencies
