Pakistan's opposition Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf said Sunday that police arrested senior party leader Hammad Azhar over cases linked to the violent protests of May 9, 2023. Azhar, a former federal minister, was transferred to Lahore police for further proceedings. His arrest comes as legal proceedings against Imran Khan's supporters continue.
Why was Hammad Azhar arrested?
Azhar had been declared a proclaimed offender after failing to appear before an anti-terrorism court, which issued permanent arrest warrants against him. He faces more than 50 cases tied to the May 9 unrest, including an attack on the Government Officers Residence gate in Lahore. Police took him from a friend's home to the investigation wing.
Where was Hammad Azhar arrested?
His exact location at the time of arrest was unclear, with conflicting reports saying he was detained in either Multan or Lahore. Neither police department officially confirmed where the arrest took place. Before his arrest, Azhar had approached the Lahore and Peshawar high courts seeking protective bail.
He had also resigned from his position as president of PTI's Punjab chapter after cases were registered against him.
How has PTI responded to the arrest?
PTI condemned the arrest as political revenge, state coercion and what it called the worst form of fascism. The party said Azhar is a former federal minister and that any case against him should be pursued through the courts, not through arbitrary detention. It accused the government of using state power to suppress political opponents and silence PTI's voice.
PTI demanded that Azhar be presented before a court immediately, that his fundamental and legal rights be protected, and that political victimization stop. The party added that Imran Khan and PTI's ideology cannot be eliminated through arrests, cases or state coercion, and that such tactics were strengthening public resolve.
What caused the May 9 protests?
The May 9 protests erupted across Pakistan after Khan was arrested from the Islamabad High Court premises in a corruption case. Demonstrators attacked military installations, including army headquarters in Rawalpindi and the Corps Commander's House in Lahore. Protesters also vandalized soldiers' monuments, attacked the Radio Pakistan building in Peshawar and set fire to police vehicles and security posts.
At least 14 people were killed and hundreds injured in the violence, and more than 10,000 PTI members were subsequently arrested. Legal proceedings against PTI leaders and workers accused in the May 9 cases remain ongoing.
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