LAHORE: The Lahore High Court on Thursday adjourned the hearing of a petition by former federal minister Fawad Chaudhry seeking permission to attend proceedings of cases against him through video link.

Chaudhry appeared before the court along with his counsel Sikandar Zulqarnain.

Chief Justice Malik Shahzad Ahmad Khan asked the petitioner’s counsel about the number of terrorism cases against his client.

The lawyer said except two, all the cases against the petitioner carried terrorism charges.

“Do you not trust your lawyer?” the chief justice asked the former minister as he came to the rostrum and addressed the court.

Mr Chaudhry said he wanted to present complete details on the facts.

He said there were 47 cases against him and it was not possible to appear personally at the hearing of each case.

The chief justice remarked that the court needed to look into the law.

The petitioner’s counsel sought more time for the preparation of the arguments and the chief justice adjourned the hearing till May 16.

The LHC had previously granted protective bail to Fawad Chaudhry in 36 cases with a direction to appear before the trial courts concerned for further relief of pre-arrest bail.

Published in Dawn, May 10th, 2024