The Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) in Lahore has handed PTI leader Hammad Azhar over to police on a 20-day physical remand in the Jinnah House burning and siege case.
The court reserved its decision on the physical remand earlier during the hearing before announcing the verdict and sending Azhar into police custody for further investigation.
The hearing on Hammad Azhar’s physical remand was conducted by ATC Judge Malik Abid Hussain.
During the proceedings, the court also called media representatives into the courtroom. The judge directed reporters to cover the proceedings but instructed them not to take out or use their mobile phones.
Police and the prosecution had sought physical remand of the PTI leader for investigation into the May 9 Jinnah House attack case.
Prosecution seeks physical remand for investigation
The prosecution argued that Hammad Azhar is nominated in the case and that his physical remand is necessary to advance the investigation.
Prosecutors told the court that a photogrammetric test of the accused was required. They also said investigators needed to recover the mobile phone of the person allegedly involved in spreading the unrest.
The prosecution further sought access to the social media accounts allegedly used to launch a campaign linked to the May 9 unrest.
According to the prosecution, recovering these accounts and other evidence is necessary to establish the accused’s alleged role in the case.
Defence challenges police’s request
Azhar’s lawyer opposed the request for physical remand, arguing that the prosecution could not seek custody on the basis of evidence that might be discovered in the future.
The defence also maintained that Azhar was not present at the scene of the Jinnah House attack on May 9.
According to his lawyer, Hammad Azhar was in Gujranwala on the day of the incident and was therefore not present at Jinnah House when the attack took place.
The defence argued that the court could verify Hammad Azhar’s location through geofencing technology. His lawyer said the accused’s whereabouts on the day of the incident could be established through location data rather than relying solely on the prosecution’s allegations.
The lawyer also highlighted that Hammad Azhar had previously served as a federal minister while opposing the police request for physical remand.
Police seek photographic, social media evidence
The prosecution maintained that investigators still needed to conduct a photogrammetric test of Hammad Azhar as part of the case.
It also argued that the accused’s social media accounts allegedly linked to the campaign surrounding the May 9 unrest needed to be recovered and examined.
The prosecution said the physical remand would allow investigators to pursue these lines of inquiry and collect the evidence required for the investigation.
After hearing arguments from both sides, the Anti-Terrorism Court reserved its decision before subsequently handing Hammad Azhar over to police on a 20-day physical remand.
Police took the PTI leader into custody following the court’s decision.
Arrest officially documented
Earlier, Lahore Police formally arrested the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader, while details of the cases in which he was wanted emerged.
Police, on Monday, produced the PTI leader before court in the Jinnah House case. Police said Azhar was wanted in 48 cases, including 18 cases registered within Lahore, with 17 of the total cases carrying terrorism provisions.
According to police officials, Hammad Azhar has been taken into custody and an investigation into the cases against him has begun.
Police said Azhar had not been available for investigation for a long time, which had prevented his arrest in the cases. He was subsequently declared a wanted person, and several raids were conducted to apprehend him.
Azhar is a named accused in the Jinnah House attack case, according to police.
PTI leader wanted in 48 cases
Police officials said Hammad Azhar was wanted in a total of 48 cases registered against him. Of these, 18 cases fall within the jurisdiction of Lahore Police, while 17 of the 48 cases have been registered under terrorism provisions.
The cases form part of the legal proceedings against the PTI leader, who had remained unavailable to investigators for an extended period.
Officials said Azhar had been declared a wanted person after he could not be brought into the investigation for a long time. Police subsequently carried out multiple raids in an effort to locate and arrest him. Following his detention, investigators have now started questioning him in connection with the cases.
Azhar’s mother approaches Lahore High Court
Meanwhile, Hammad Azhar’s mother has approached the Lahore High Court seeking his recovery and production before the court.
The petition names the Punjab inspector general of police, the Lahore capital city police officer and other relevant authorities as respondents. The petition was filed through Barrister Sulaiman Khan Niazi.
According to the petitioner’s lawyer, Hammad Azhar was taken into custody from Multan two days ago. The lawyer requested the Lahore High Court to order the authorities to recover Azhar and present him before the court in accordance with the law.
The petition also seeks an order directing the authorities to provide the record of the cases registered against Hammad Azhar.
The court has also directed the relevant authorities to provide legal clarification regarding the request concerning Azhar’s arrest and production before the court.
