Lahore ATC extends physical remand of PTI's Hammad Azhar for 7 days in Jinnah House attack case

An anti-terrorism court in Lahore extended the physical remand of PTI leader Hammad Azhar for an additional seven days in connection to the 2023 Jinnah House attack case. The incident occurred during protests against the arrest of former Prime Minister Imran Khan on May 9, 2023.

Police had initially booked several PTI leaders and workers on charges related to attacking and vandalizing the Jinnah House, which serves as the residence of the corps commander. During the court hearing on Monday, a state prosecutor requested the extension of the remand to allow police to recover the suspect's mobile phone and SIM, deeming them crucial pieces of evidence. They argued that the extension was necessary to ensure the success of the investigation.

Azhar, the former federal finance minister, contested the need for further remand, questioning why his offense was considered more serious than that of a murder suspect, who is typically granted a 14-day remand. He also expressed frustration over not being allowed to meet his legal representatives or family members, a concern echoed by his family in a plea before the Lahore High Court.

The ATC reserved its decision on the prosecution's request for further remand before announcing that police would retain Azhar's remand for another week. According to his family, Azhar was arrested on September 5, 2023, but police claimed they were unaware of his arrest until September 6. Consequently, Azhar was produced before an ATC on September 6, 2023.

Despite returning to public life on May 22, 2024, a year after going into hiding following the state's crackdown on the party leadership, Azhar evaded arrest when Counter-Terrorism Department officials raided the party's secretariat in Islamabad.