- Cases against PTI leader related to torching PML-N office and a container in Lahore’s Gulberg area
LAHORE: The Lahore High Court granted bail to Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf leader Ejaz Chaudhry in three separate cases related to the May 9 riots.
A two-member bench, headed by Justice Syed Shahbaz Ali Rizvi, announced its reserved verdict on three bail petitions filed by Ejaz Chaudhry.
The bail was granted in cases registered at Model Town (FIR No. 366/23), Naseerabad (FIR No. 1078/23), and Gulberg (FIR No. 1271/23) police stations. The court had reserved its verdict yesterday, which was announced on Wednesday, granting bail to the PTI’s former provincial president of Punjab.
During the hearing, Chaudhry’s counsel, Mian Ali Ashfaq, argued that his client had been falsely implicated in three cases, including the torching of the PML-N office and a container in Lahore’s Gulberg area.
He contended that the trial court had failed to properly assess the facts of the cases, while in the same matters, the PTI founder had already been granted bail. After reviewing the arguments, the LHC granted bail to Chaudhry in all three cases.
On Tuesday, the LHC expressed strong displeasure over the prosecution’s failure to submit the case record in PTI leader’s bail petition, filed in connection with the May 9 riot cases. During the proceedings, the Additional Prosecutor General informed the court that he did not have the required record.
The bench questioned the delay, noting that three months had passed despite a clear written order directing the submission of the record. “What have you been doing all this time? The court must be informed,” the judges remarked, expressing dissatisfaction over 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 over social media activity. He stated that no recovery was made from Chaudhry and that he had been taken into custody from Islamabad during his detention period.
Earlier, the Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) Lahore had rejected Ejaz Ch’s bail pleas, prompting him to file appeals in the Lahore High Court.
Mr Chaudhry had challenged the ATC’s decision on August 9 in connection with cases relating to arson, vandalism, and hate speech during the May 9, 2023, protests that erupted nationwide after the arrest of PTI founder Imran Khan.
The trial court had previously sentenced PTI’s provincial leader, Mr Chaudhry, to ten years of imprisonment in each of the three cases. With today’s ruling, the Lahore High Court has suspended those convictions pending further proceedings.
