Islamabad, Pakistan – Former Prime Minister and founder of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), Imran Khan, has once again refused to undergo a court-ordered polygraph (lie detector) and photogrammetric test in connection with the violent protests that erupted across the country on May 9, 2023.
The Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) in Lahore on Monday reiterated its directive to conduct both tests and submit a report by June 9, 2025. The decision follows the prosecution’s argument that such scientific tests are crucial for concluding the ongoing investigation.
May 9 Violence and Legal Context
The unrest began after Khan’s arrest from the Islamabad High Court premises, triggering widespread protests allegedly led by PTI supporters. Several military installations were attacked, including the Lahore Corps Commander’s residence (Jinnah House), Mianwali Airbase, and Rawalpindi’s Army General Headquarters. Khan now faces 12 terrorism cases, accused of inciting the violence.
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Since August 2023, Imran Khan has been detained at Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi. He has dismissed all charges as politically motivated, while his legal team argues that the polygraph order — issued 727 days after the events — is unlawful and driven by malice.
Court Orders and Khan’s Refusal
The ATC had initially permitted the tests on May 14, 2025, but Khan refused three times, on May 20, 21, and 22, stating he would not participate without his lawyers present. In one instance, he said: “This test is a trap — it’s baseless.”
Despite his objections, ATC Judge Manzar Ali Gul directed police to arrange the tests inside Adiala Jail and submit findings by June 9.
Prosecutor Rana Azhar stated that Pakistan’s Supreme Court allows such tests as part of investigative processes, especially when verifying the statements of the accused.
Political and Legal Reactions
PTI lawyer Barrister Salman Safdar challenged the court’s decision, arguing that Khan has already secured bail in 21 terrorism cases and that ordering such a test after nearly two years undermines legal integrity.
Punjab Information Minister Azma Bokhari criticized Khan’s repeated refusals, saying, “He’s violating court orders and avoiding the truth. He must understand he’s in Adiala Jail, not in Bani Gala.”
PTI senior leader Sheikh Waqas Akram condemned the decision as “one of the most politically motivated legal rulings in Pakistan’s judicial history,” asserting that the party would not permit the tests.
Understanding the Polygraph Test
A polygraph test, often referred to as a lie detector, measures a subject’s physiological responses — heart rate, breathing, perspiration, and blood pressure — while they answer specific questions. Variations in these responses can suggest deception.
According to former investigative officer Mohammad Irfan, trained examiners administer both control (non-crime-related) and relevant (crime-related) questions to detect inconsistencies. The results are plotted on graphs for analysis.
Effectiveness and Legal Standing
Globally, the reliability of polygraph tests remains highly disputed. A 2003 review by the U.S. National Academy of Sciences placed the accuracy of these tests between 80% to 90%, but stressed they are not entirely dependable due to several influencing factors:
Mental State: Anxiety or anger may trigger reactions even when the subject is truthful.
Examiner Skill: Interpretation heavily relies on the examiner’s expertise.
Countermeasures: Some individuals can consciously suppress physiological reactions.
In Pakistan, polygraph results are not admissible as primary evidence in court under the Qanun-e-Shahadat Order (Law of Evidence). However, the Supreme Court of Pakistan ruled in 2016 that such tests may assist investigations if the accused consents.
Prosecution vs. Defense: Legal Tug-of-War
Punjab Prosecutor General Farhad Ali Shah explained to Urdu News that polygraph tests can help confirm statements or lead to new evidence. However, such results are typically treated as supporting material, to be used alongside other evidence like video footage or eyewitness accounts.
Imran Khan’s legal team maintains that his refusal is within his legal rights, but prosecutors argue that continued non-cooperation may be seen as obstruction.
Global Perspective
Courts in India, the United States, and Europe have often rejected the admissibility of polygraph tests, citing scientific uncertainty. The U.S. Supreme Court ruled in 1998 that lie detector results are not reliable enough to be admitted in trials.
Legal analysts in Pakistan, such as Barrister Muhammad Ahmad Pansota, caution that using such tests for political purposes can severely undermine public trust in the justice system.
What’s Next?
As the deadline for the test report approaches, political tensions continue to rise. The prosecution argues that Khan’s refusal is delaying critical investigations, while PTI insists the process is a tool of political persecution.
The court’s June 9 deadline may become a key moment in this high-stakes legal and political drama, testing not just Imran Khan’s legal strategy — but also Pakistan’s justice system.
