SC orders decisions in May 9 cases in 4 months

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court of Pakistan was on Tuesday informed by the Punjab government that the terrorism and arson incidents of May 9 caused losses of some Rs197.348 million to the national exchequer in Punjab besides injuring some 152 police officials and five private persons.

A three-member bench of the apex court headed by Chief Justice Yahya Afridi heard the Punjab government’s appeals on cancellation of bails granted by lower courts to the accused involved in the alleged terrorism and arson incidents of May 9 and 10. The court directed trial courts to decide May 9 cases within four months.

During the course of hearing, the Punjab government submitted a comprehensive report to the court regarding May 9 incidents. The court was informed that the riots on May 9 caused a loss of Rs197.348 million in Punjab. According to the report, 24,595 accused of May 9 incidents are still at large, adding that vandalism and property damage occurred in 38 cities of Punjab on May 9.

It was submitted that in Lahore, property worth Rs110 million was damaged while in Rawalpindi, damages amounted to Rs26 million. Similarly, in Mianwali, the property damage reached Rs50 million. A total of 319 cases related to May 9 were registered across 38 districts of Punjab. The total number of May 9 accused is 35,962 and out of these 11,367 have been arrested.

The counsel for the Punjab government told the court that they will complete the trials in three months. Justice Afridi reiterated four months.

The counsel for accused Khadija Shah asked how the trial will be completed in four months, adding that multiple cases have been registered against his client.

Similarly, advocate Faisal Chaudhry told the court that there were 35 cases against his client. Hence the trial cannot be completed in such a short period. “Whose lawyer are you?” the chief justice asked Faisal. “I represent co-accused Fawad Chaudhry,” he replied.

“We will not hear you because your case is not scheduled for hearing,” the CJP told Faisal and said the Mashal Khan murder took place in Mardan and the case trial was completed in three months. “Have confidence in anti-terrorism courts,” the CJP said.

Khadija’s lawyer Sameer Khosa requested the court that his client’s fundamental rights be protected. The chief justice asked him to trust the ATC concerned. He said the law was clear that trials in anti-terrorism courts be conducted daily.

Additional Prosecutor General Punjab Wajid Gilani informed the court that the statements of 28 witnesses have been recorded so far.