The Supreme Court (SC) of Pakistan on Friday granted bail to Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Senator Ejaz Chaudhry in the May 9 cases.  The bail was approved against surety bonds worth Rs100,000. The case was heard by a three-member bench headed by Justice Naeem Akhtar Afghan, with Justice Hashim Kakar and Justice Ishtiaq Ibrahim also part of the panel. While granting bail, the Supreme Court ordered Ejaz Chaudhry to submit the surety amount to the trial court. 

During the proceedings, the special prosecutor representing the Punjab government alleged that Chaudhry was involved in incitement and conspiracy linked to the May 9 unrest. In response, Justice Naeem Afghan remarked, “If the case against Ejaz Chaudhry was really that strong, then why wasn’t it sent to the military court like the 600 others already referred?” He further emphasised, “Bail cannot be used as a form of punishment.”Ejaz Chaudhry’s lawyer informed the court that his client has been in custody since May 11, 2023, making it over 11 months of incarceration.

It is worth noting that on March 7, 2025, Senate Chairman Yusuf Raza Gilani had issued production orders for Ejaz Chaudhry, asking authorities to ensure his attendance in the next Senate session. This was not the first time such orders were issued. In January, similar instructions were given for Chaudhry, who has been detained at Lahore’s Kot Lakhpat Jail for more than 19 months. Despite the production orders, Chaudhry did not appear in the Senate session. In protest, opposition lawmakers held up placards featuring his image during the proceedings.

Credit: Independent News Pakistan (INP)