The Lahore High Court has granted bail to Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Ejaz Chaudhry in three separate cases related to the May 9 arson and vandalism incidents.
Express News reported that the court announced its reserved verdict on three bail petitions filed by Chaudhry. The two-member bench, headed by Justice Syed Shahbaz Ali Rizvi, heard the petitions and approved bail in all the three cases.
During the hearing, Chaudhry’s lawyer Mian Ali Ashfaq argued that his client had been falsely implicated in three cases, including the shooting of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) office and a container in the Lahore area of Gulberg.
He contended that the trial court had failed to properly assess the facts of the cases, while in the same issues, the PTI founder had already obtained bail. After considering the arguments, the LHC granted bail to Chaudhry in all three cases.
Learn more: LHC halted for prosecution’s failure to submit case
The LHC on Tuesday expressed strong displeasure over the prosecution’s failure to submit the case file in the PTI chief’s bail petition filed in connection with the May 9 riot cases. During the proceedings, the additional public prosecutor informed the court that he did not have the required file.
The bench questioned the delay, noting that three months had passed despite a clear written order directing the submission of the file. “What have you been doing all this time? The court must be informed,” the judges remarked, expressing dissatisfaction with the prosecution’s conduct.
The court observed that three separate cases were under consideration and ordered that the complete record be presented before the next hearing.
Ashfaq, representing Chaudhry, argued that his client was falsely implicated and arrested without any concrete evidence, allegedly on social media activity. He said no recovery was made of Chaudhry and he was taken into police custody in Islamabad during his detention period.
Separately, the LHC summoned the Punjab Defender General and the Chief Secretary for the upcoming hearing of Jamaat-e-Islami’s petition challenging the provincial government’s failure to hold local body elections.
