An anti-terrorism court in Lahore grants police 21-day physical remand of PTI leader Hammad Azhar in the Jinnah House attack case.
Web Desk: An anti-terrorism court (ATC) in Lahore has granted police 21-day physical remand of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Hammad Azhar in a case related to the attack on Jinnah House during the May 9, 2023 riots.
Azhar was presented before the court by Sarwar Road police on Monday under tight security after his reported arrest over the weekend. The police had initially sought a much longer period of physical remand.
ATC Judge Sardar Muhammad Akram presided over the proceedings, with Barrister Abuzar Salman Niazi representing Azhar.
Police seek custody for investigation
The investigating officer told the court that Azhar had been wanted in the Jinnah House attack case for a considerable period and had recently been arrested.
Police sought physical custody to interrogate him and investigate his alleged involvement in the attack.
The investigating officer also requested permission to conduct a photogrammetric test and a forensic examination of Azhar’s social media accounts. Police alleged that the attack on Jinnah House was part of a wider conspiracy.
The court ultimately approved 21 days of physical remand, rather than the 60 days initially sought by investigators.
Defence challenges police case
Azhar’s lawyer opposed the request for physical remand, arguing that police had failed to collect sufficient evidence despite allegedly having sought Azhar for several years.
The defence also argued that no identification parade had been conducted and questioned the material available against the PTI leader.
According to Dawn, the lawyer further claimed that Azhar had been implicated on the basis of a co-suspect’s statement and referred to the earlier discharge of PTI leader Dr Yasmin Rashid in connection with the same statement.
The defence also raised concerns about Azhar’s treatment in custody. The court directed police to treat him appropriately.
Mother had moved Lahore High Court
Azhar’s appearance before the ATC came hours after his mother, Ishrat Azhar, filed a habeas corpus petition in the Lahore High Court seeking his recovery.
She had alleged that her son was arrested two days earlier but that his family did not know where he was being held.
The petition named the Punjab inspector general of police, Lahore capital city police officer, deputy inspector general of operations and the RA Bazaar station house officer as respondents. It sought Azhar’s production before the court and disclosure of the legal basis for his detention.
The legal action followed conflicting reports about Azhar’s arrest. On Sunday, Lahore and Multan police officials had said they had no confirmation of his arrest or handover to Lahore police.
Azhar wanted in May 9 cases
Hammad Azhar has been wanted by Lahore police in connection with cases stemming from the May 9, 2023 protests, including the attack on the Jinnah House, the residence of the Lahore corps commander.
Dawn reported that Azhar has been declared a proclaimed offender by multiple anti-terrorism courts for not joining proceedings in cases related to the May 9 violence.
Azhar had remained out of public view following the crackdown against PTI leadership after the May 9 violence. He reappeared publicly in May 2024 after spending months in hiding, according to Dawn.
PTI calls arrest political victimisation
PTI condemned Azhar’s arrest, describing it as political victimisation and alleging that state institutions were being used against political opponents.
The party has maintained that its leaders are being targeted on political grounds. These claims remain the party’s position and have not been established by the court.
The court’s decision to grant 21-day physical remand allows police to continue investigating Azhar’s alleged role in the Jinnah House attack. The case proceedings will continue as investigators conduct further questioning and evidence collection.
