Hammad Azhar handed over to police on 20-day remand

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf leader and former federal minister Hammad Azhar was handed over to police on a 20-day physical remand Monday in a case related to the May 9, 2023, attack on Lahore's Jinnah House. The remand followed his arrest after an extended period in hiding.

Why was Hammad Azhar granted physical remand?

Azhar was produced before Lahore's Anti-Terrorism Court, where police said he had been arrested in connection with the Jinnah House attack case. Anti-Terrorism Court Judge Malik Abid Hussain approved the physical remand and handed him over to police for investigation into the case.

The prosecution said Azhar was a nominated accused in the Jinnah House case and that physical remand was needed for the investigation. Police sought to conduct his photogrammetric test and recover evidence linked to a mobile phone allegedly used to spread unrest, along with evidence from his social media accounts.

What did Azhar's mother say in her Lahore High Court petition?

The development came after Azhar's mother approached the Lahore High Court seeking his recovery and production before a court. She filed the petition through Barrister Abu Zar Suleman Khan Niazi, naming the Punjab inspector general of police, the Lahore capital city police officer and other officials as respondents.

The petition said Azhar had been taken into custody from Multan two days earlier but had not been produced before any court. His mother asked the high court to order his recovery and production, and to direct authorities to formally record his arrest in accordance with the law. She also sought records of cases registered against her son.

What did Azhar's lawyer argue in court?

Azhar's lawyer opposed the remand request, saying his client was in Gujranwala on May 9 and was not present at the Jinnah House site, adding that his location could be verified through geofencing. He said Azhar was willing to cooperate with the investigation into his social media accounts and undergo a photogrammetric test.

The lawyer argued that physical remand could not be sought on the basis of evidence that might emerge in the future. The court nevertheless approved the 20-day physical remand. Azhar has been facing multiple cases linked to the May 9, 2023, events and subsequent incidents.

Why was Hammad Azhar in hiding before his arrest?

According to police sources, Azhar is a nominated accused in the main Jinnah House attack case and is wanted in multiple other cases, several involving terrorism-related charges. He was taken into custody in Multan and later handed over to Lahore police for legal proceedings, having remained in hiding for an extended period after being declared a proclaimed offender by a court.

Sources said Azhar briefly appeared in public following his father's death but went into hiding again afterward. Police said they began questioning him after his arrest and that further legal proceedings would follow.

How has PTI reacted to Hammad Azhar's arrest?

PTI strongly condemned Azhar's arrest, describing it as a continuation of what it called political victimization, state oppression and "fascist tactics." In a statement from its central media department, the party alleged Azhar was being repeatedly targeted for political reasons and accused the government of using state power to suppress political opponents.

PTI said that if cases had been registered against Azhar, he should be produced before a court and dealt with according to the law, adding that the arrest of political workers was contrary to the spirit of democracy and the Constitution. The party demanded his immediate production before a court, protection of his fundamental and legal rights, and an end to what it described as political victimization.