LAHORE (MNN); An anti-terrorism court (ATC) in Lahore has granted police a 21-day physical remand of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Hammad Azhar in connection with the May 9 riots and the attack on Jinnah House.
Azhar was presented before the court on Monday by Sarwar Road police under strict security arrangements, with a heavy police presence deployed around the court premises.
ATC Judge Sardar Muhammad Akram heard the case, while Barrister Abuzar Salman Niazi represented Hammad Azhar.
The investigating officer requested a 60-day physical remand, arguing that Azhar had remained wanted in the case for a considerable period and was recently taken into custody. Police maintained that further interrogation was necessary to investigate his alleged role in the attack and vandalism at Jinnah House, which also serves as the official residence of the corps commander.
The investigating officer also sought permission to conduct a photogrammetric test and examine Azhar’s social media accounts through forensic methods. Police alleged that the attack on Jinnah House was carried out as part of a planned conspiracy.
However, Azhar’s counsel opposed the request, arguing that despite police claims that his client had remained in hiding for three years, investigators had failed to gather evidence against him during that period.
Barrister Niazi argued that there was no material available to justify physical remand and claimed that no identification parade of Azhar had been conducted. He also objected to Azhar being presented before the court with his face covered and alleged that his client was not being treated appropriately.
The court subsequently directed police to ensure appropriate treatment of the PTI leader. The judge observed that people should be treated in a manner that would not cause embarrassment when authorities had to face them later.
The defence counsel further argued that Azhar had been implicated primarily on the statement of a co-suspect. He referred to PTI leader Dr Yasmin Rashid, saying she had also been implicated on the basis of the same suspect’s statement but was discharged from the case at the initial hearing.
After hearing arguments from both sides, the court approved a 21-day physical remand instead of the 60 days sought by police.
Mother Files Habeas Corpus Petition
Meanwhile, Hammad Azhar’s mother, Ishrat Azhar, filed a habeas corpus petition in the Lahore High Court, seeking her son’s recovery and clarification regarding his arrest and detention.
The petition named senior Punjab and Lahore police officials as respondents and alleged that Azhar had been arrested two days earlier, while his family remained unaware of his whereabouts.
The petition expressed concerns about his safety and requested the court to order authorities to produce him before a competent court and disclose the legal grounds for his arrest and detention.
It also sought immediate access for Azhar to his legal counsel and reasonable communication with family members in accordance with the law.
Reports regarding Azhar’s arrest had circulated widely on social media over the weekend, with conflicting accounts about when and where he was taken into custody. Earlier, police officials in Lahore and Multan had reportedly said they had no information regarding his arrest.
PTI strongly condemned the arrest, describing it as an act of political victimisation. The party alleged that Azhar was being targeted because of his political affiliation, an allegation the government and authorities have not addressed in the proceedings mentioned above.
Azhar, the son of former Punjab governor Mian Muhammad Azhar, has previously been declared a proclaimed offender by several anti-terrorism courts for failing to appear in proceedings related to May 9 cases.
