ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court of Pakistan on Wednesday issued notices to all relevant parties in a petition filed by former federal minister Fawad Chaudhry, seeking to club together 35 separate cases related to the May 9 protests.
A two-member bench headed by Justice Shahid Waheed heard the plea and adjourned the hearing until July 1.
The court directed all concerned stakeholders to submit responses before the next hearing.
Background of the May 9 Cases
The petition revolves around the aftermath of former Prime Minister Imran Khan’s arrest by NAB on May 9, 2023, in the Al-Qadir Trust case.
The arrest triggered widespread violent protests across the country, with demonstrators targeting key military and government sites.
Major incidents included attacks on the Corps Commander’s residence in Lahore, the airbase in Mianwali, and a protest outside the General Headquarters (GHQ) in Rawalpindi.
These events prompted the government to file multiple FIRs under anti-terrorism and public order laws.
Fawad Chaudhry’s Legal Position
Fawad Chaudhry, a senior PTI leader at the time, is named in 35 different FIRs filed in various cities.
His legal team argues that handling these cases separately would result in procedural delays and legal inconsistencies.
The SC’s decision to seek responses from all parties may set a precedent for handling politically sensitive multi-jurisdictional cases in the future.
