On Tuesday, a Lahore police team arrived at Adiala Jail to conduct a polygraph test in Pakistan on Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder and former prime minister Imran Khan, in connection with the May 9 riots investigation. However, sources confirm that Khan declined to take the lie detector test, citing the absence of his legal counsel.
The 11-member police team had travelled from Lahore to Rawalpindi with the intention of including Khan in the ongoing probe related to the violent protests that erupted last year. Authorities had planned to carry out a lie detector test in Pakistan, which is increasingly being used in high-profile investigations, especially those involving political figures and sensitive cases.
Despite multiple attempts by jail officials to summon the PTI leader, Imran Khan reportedly refused to cooperate without his lawyers present. This refusal has now raised fresh questions about the transparency of the investigation and whether due legal process is being followed during such sensitive procedures.
What Is a Polygraph Test in Pakistan?
A polygraph test in Pakistan, commonly known as a lie detector test, involves monitoring a person’s physiological responses—such as heart rate, blood pressure, respiration, and skin conductivity—while they are asked a series of questions. The test is designed to detect signs of stress or deception. While widely used by law enforcement agencies, its legal standing in Pakistan remains a grey area, as the results are often not admissible in court but may still influence the direction of an investigation.
The incident at Adiala Jail on Tuesday has once again brought the lie detector test in Pakistan under public scrutiny, with supporters of Imran Khan calling it a pressure tactic, while critics argue that anyone with nothing to hide should comply with investigative procedures.
 founder and former prime minister Imran Khan, in connection with the May 9 riots investigation. However, sources confirm that Khan declined to take the lie detector test, citing the absence of his legal counsel.){kind=link}