The Punjab government has raised an objection over the bench hearing former federal minister Fawad Chaudhry’s petition seeking to club multiple cases against him in the Supreme Court (SC).
The petition, filed by Fawad Chaudhry, challenges several FIRs registered in connection with the May 9 incidents. A two-member bench of the SC, headed by Justice Hashim Kakar, took up the case on Tuesday.
Presenting his arguments, Fawad Chaudhry contended that 35 cases stemming from a single incident had been registered at different police stations, which violates principles of justice and creates legal complexities. He argued that this practice could amount to political victimization and stressed that multiple FIRs cannot be lodged over the same incident. He requested the court to consolidate all the cases for a single trial.
Justice Hashim Kakar remarked that, prima facie, proceedings could be initiated based on the first FIR.
During the hearing, the Punjab government’s prosecutor objected to the composition of the current bench, pointing out that since Fawad Chaudhry had appealed against a two-member Lahore High Court decision, constitutionally, only a three-member SC bench could hear the matter.
Agreeing with this argument, the court referred the case to the SC judges’ committee for reconstitution of the bench. The SC also directed the registrar’s office to schedule the case before a three-member bench next Monday.
