Lahore ATC extends physical remand of PTI's Hammad Azhar

On Thursday, an anti-terrorism court in Lahore extended the physical remand of PTI leader Hammad Azhar by 12 days in connection with the Jinnah House attack case stemming from the May 9 riots. The Sarwar Road police had charged several PTI leaders and workers with attacking and vandalising Jinnah House during protests against former Prime Minister Imran Khan's arrest.

ATC Judge Sardar Muhammad Akram heard the case, where the investigating officer (IO) requested an extension to conduct a polygraph test on Azhar. The IO alleged that Hammad was among the attackers, but his defense counsel, Sikandar Zulqarnain, pointed out inconsistencies in the police's evidence. The defense argued that the police had claimed to have recovered a baton and other items during the initial hearing, but now stated that these items were still unaccounted for.

Furthermore, the counsel questioned why the investigation had not been concluded after 37 days of physical remand and asked the court to send Azhar to jail on judicial remand instead. Azhar himself claimed that he was in Bhakkar on the day of the attack and maintained he had not been interrogated. He demanded the court to review all the evidence, including a previous forensic examination report, to reveal the truth.

After weighing the arguments from both sides, the judge decided to extend Hammad Azhar's physical remand by another 12 days.