LAHORE: The Lahore High Court on Friday suspended a trial court’s order to declare former federal minister Fawad Chaudhry a proclaimed offender (PO) in cases of May 9 riots.

A two-judge bench headed by Justice Ali Baqar Najafi passed the order on a petition by Fawad Chaudhry and also issued notices to the prosecution for Jan 11.

A counsel for the former minister argued that an anti-terrorism court declared his client a PO in multiple cases of the May 9 events for not attending the court proceedings. He stated that the petitioner was in judicial custody and detained at Adiala Jail in connection with other cases made against him.

He argued that the ATC erroneously issued the impugned order contrary to the facts as the trial court could have summoned Chaudhry by issuing a notice to the jail officials.

The counsel asked the court to declare the trial court’s order null and void.

Published in Dawn, December 30th, 2023