LAHORE: Police on Friday told an anti-terrorism court (ATC) that former federal minister Fawad Chaudhry had been found guilty in five cases of May 9 riots, including burning official vehicles near the Jinnah (Corps Commander) House.

A representative of a joint investigation team (JIT) presented a report before the court during the hearing of pre-arrest bail petitions of the former minister.

ATC-I judge Manzer Ali Gill heard the petitions as Fawad Chaudhry appeared on expiry of the bail period.

The JIT representative presented the investigation report, stating that the former minister had been found guilty in the five May 9 cases.

Fawad Chaudhry requested the court for more time for arguments, saying that his lawyer was not present.

The judge accepted the request and extended his bail till March 19, instructing him to present arguments at the next hearing.

Talking to the media, Mr Chaudhry expressed regrets that instead of easing hardships of people during Ramazan, 50 new ministers had been appointed. He said the government was not functioning but merely dragging along. He said the government was being blackmailed by every segment but the PTI leadership was not taking advantage of the situation.

Fawad Chaudhry admitted that the PTI had so far failed to form a grand alliance but the street power lay with both Maulana Fazlur Rehman and PTI. He claimed that the release of PTI founding chairman Imran Khan could only be achieved through a movement.

Published in Dawn, March 1st, 2025