Fawad Chaudhry to be included in May 9 probe

Former federal minister granted an extension in his protective bail concerning 36 cases

LAHORE/ ISLAMABAD:

The Lahore police decided on Wednesday to involve former federal minister Fawad Chaudhry in the ongoing investigation of the key cases related to the May 9 vandalism.

According to police sources, Fawad will be integrated into the investigation process based on the statements provided by the detained suspects. The evidence implicating Fawad has surfaced from the statements of these individuals.

The police officials further clarified that although Fawad has been granted interim bail in all the cases, he has yet to be included in the investigation of certain instances.

Fawad’s involvement will be examined in Case No. 97/23, filed at the Sarwar Road police station, as well as in Case No. 366/23 registered in Model Town.Besides, he will be incorporated into the investigation of Case No. 103/23, lodged at the Sarwar Road police station.

Meanwhile, the Islamabad High Court (IHC) issued a notice on a contempt petition to the interior secretary and other relevant parties over their failure to provide accurate details regarding the cases against Fawad Chaudhry.

The court has demanded their response by the next hearing.During the proceedings, Fawad Chaudhry's lawyer, Qaiser Imam, highlighted discrepancies in the information presented.

He informed the court that while the interior secretary had submitted a list of twenty-six cases against Fawad in the IHC, the Punjab police had filed an additional ten cases in the Lahore High Court without disclosing them to the IHC.

This, he argued, amounted to deceit and fraudulence against the IHC.

After considering the preliminary arguments, the court issued notices to the interior secretary and other relevant parties. The hearing of the case has been adjourned indefinitely.

Extension granted in protective bail

In another development, the former federal minister was granted an extension in his protective bail concerning 36 cases.

The court decreed that once the decision on Fawad Chaudhry's video link application is made, the seven-day period of protective bail will commence.

A two-member bench consisting of Justice Alia Neelam and Justice Farooq Haider heard the case.

Fawad appeared in the court along with his wife Hiba Fawad.Justice Alia Neelam informed Fawad's counsel that he had failed to appear before the chief justice on April 18.

In response, the counsel stated that he had appeared before the CJ on Wednesday, who instructed them to file a plea for an expedited hearing of the case.Justice Farooq Haider said that the CJ cannot make any orders in cases pertaining to the anti-terrorism court.

Last week, an anti-terrorism court took action, prohibiting the police from arresting ex-PTI leader Fawad Chaudhry in nine cases related to May 9 violence.

The ATC judge issued these orders after granting interim bail to Chaudhry in four cases concerning the same violence until April 20.Chaudhry faces multiple allegations, including corruption charges.

He was released from Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi on April 6.

Earlier, a division bench of the Islamabad High Court, comprising Chief Justice Aamer Farooq and Justice Tariq Mehmood Jahangiri, granted bail to Fawad Chaudhry on April 1 in a NAB case regarding land in Jhelum.

Chaudhry's counsel, Qasir Imam, argued in court that his client was accused of accepting a Rs5 million bribe from a citizen.

He contended that the allegation was baseless, as his client had never offered a job to the complainant, who had lodged the FIR against him.