LAHORE: An Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) has handed Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Hammad Azhar over to police on a 20-day physical remand in the Jinnah House arson and vandalism case.
Hammad Azhar was produced before the Anti-Terrorism Court by Lahore Police. Following the court’s decision to grant physical remand, police took him back into custody for further investigation.
During Azhar’s appearance, Judge Malik Abid Hussain directed media representatives and other people present in the courtroom to leave. The judge instructed that only lawyers and the investigating officer remain inside the courtroom during the proceedings.
During the hearing, the prosecution told the court that Hammad Azhar had been formally arrested in the Jinnah House attack case in connection with the events of May 9. The prosecution said Azhar was nominated in the case and that his physical remand was required for investigation.
The prosecution further stated that investigators needed to recover social media accounts allegedly used to run what it described as a campaign of unrest.
Azhar’s lawyer, however, argued that his client was in Gujranwala on May 9 and was not present at the scene. The lawyer said the court could verify Azhar’s location through geofencing.
The defence also told the court that Azhar was willing to undergo social media and photogrammetric tests. The lawyer argued that physical remand could not be granted on the basis of evidence that might emerge in the future.
Meanwhile, police have continued their investigation after taking Hammad Azhar into custody. Details of cases registered against the PTI leader have also emerged. According to police, Azhar was wanted in 48 cases, including 17 cases registered under terrorism-related provisions.
Earlier, Hammad Azhar’s mother had approached the Lahore High Court seeking his recovery. The petition was filed through Barrister Abu Zar Suleman Khan Niazi, naming the Punjab Inspector General of Police, the Capital City Police Officer and other officials as respondents.
The petitioner’s counsel claimed that Hammad Azhar had been taken into custody from Multan two days earlier but had not yet been produced before any court.
The latest court order places Azhar in police custody for 20 days as investigators continue proceedings in the Jinnah House case.
