PTI leader Hammad Azhar handed over to Lahore police on 21-day remand in May 9 riots case

LAHORE: An anti-terrorism court (ATC) granted police a 21-day physical remand of PTI leader Hammad Azhar in a case pertaining to the attack on Jinnah House during the May 9 riots. Earlier in the day, his mother had filed a habeas corpus petition in the Lahore High Court (LHC) seeking Azhar’s recovery, saying he had been arrested on Saturday. However, until Sunday night, Lahore and Multan police had said they were unaware of his arrest. On Monday, Sarwar Road police finally presented Azhar before the court under tight security, with a heavy contingent of police deployed around the premises.

Sarwar Road police had booked several PTI leaders and workers on charges of attacking and vandalising the Jinnah House , which also serves as the residence of the corps commander, during the May 9, 2023 protests against the arrest of ex-premier Imran Khan. ATC Judge Sardar Muhammad Akram presided over the proceedings, with Barrister Abuzar Salman Niazi appearing as the PTI leader’s counsel. The investigating officer (IO) sought Azhar’s 60-day physical remand, saying he had been wanted in the case for a considerable period and had recently been arrested. The IO argued that the physical remand was…