LAHORE: An anti-terrorism court on Saturday granted interim pre-arrest bail to former federal information minister Fawad Chaudhry in two cases relating to the May 9 riots.

Mr Chaudhry, who quit the PTI after the violent protests of May 9, appeared before the court along with his counsel.

The former minister sought bail in two cases of torching the PML-N party office in Model Town and other public property during the protests of May 9 by the PTI workers following the arrest of former prime minister Imran Khan by the NAB.

The court allowed the bail to Chaudhry till Aug 8 and directed him to furnish surety bonds of Rs100,000 in each case.

Separately, the court extended the pre-arrest bail of 11 suspects in a case of ransacking public and private property during the May 9 riots in Kasur.

Pattoki City police station registered a case against the suspects.

The court extended the bail of the suspects till Aug 10 and directed the investigating officer to submit the challan (investigation report) against them by the next hearing.

The court also adjourned post-arrest bail petitions of PTI-Punjab President Dr Yasmin Rashid in three cases, including attack on Askari Tower and Model Town office of the PML-N.

The court sought further arguments from the petitioner’s counsel on July 12.

Published in Dawn, July 9th, 2023