LAHORE: An anti-terrorism court (ATC) in Lahore on Tuesday sent Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Hammad Azhar to jail on a 14-day judicial remand in a case related to the May 9 riots.
Police produced the detained PTI leader before the court after his latest physical remand ended. With this, his total period in physical custody reached 50 days.
The ATC had previously extended Azhar’s physical remand by 12 days on October 15 in the same case.
Hammad Azhar Arrested in Multan
Police sources said authorities handed Azhar over to Lahore police following his arrest in Multan.
The sources added that Azhar, who had been declared a proclaimed offender, was allegedly involved in multiple cases registered in connection with the May 9, 2023 riots.
Azhar served as a federal minister during the PTI government. He also headed the party’s Punjab chapter before resigning from the position in August 2024.
At the time, he cited a lack of access to jailed PTI founder and former prime minister Imran Khan, along with restrictions on his movements, as reasons for his resignation.
Azhar had remained in hiding after authorities named him in several cases linked to the May 9 violence.
Background of May 9 Riots
The May 9 riots erupted after Imran Khan was arrested from the Islamabad High Court (IHC) premises in connection with a graft case.
Following his arrest, thousands of PTI supporters staged protests and attacked public property and military installations.
The targets included the Corps Commander House in Lahore, as demonstrators expressed anger over the former prime minister’s detention.
Authorities subsequently registered multiple cases in connection with the violence, and several PTI leaders and supporters faced legal proceedings.
