Imran Khan's another nephew arrested from Lahore home in May 9 riots case

• Lawyer seeks evidence the police have against Shahrez Khan. 
• DSP presents case record in court, affirming suspect's involvement.
• ATC announces verdict after hearing arguments from both sides.

LAHORE: Another son of Aleem Khan, sister of PTI founder Imran Khan, was on Friday arrested in connection with May 9 riots case in Lahore, the SSP Investigation said.

Without providing further details the SSP investigation said the matter was under investigation.

The development came only a day after jailed Imran’s nephew Shahrez Khan was arrested in Jinnah Attack House case related to the May 9 violence — a reference to the riots that broke out in the country following the arrest of PTI founder in a corruption case in 2023.

The PTI, on its official X handle, said that after Shahraiz, Aleema Khan’s other son, Shershah, “has also been abducted”.

Earlier today, an anti-terrorism court (ATC) in Lahore approved an eight-day physical remand of Shahrez Khan in connection with the May 9 Jinnah House attack case.

The court had earlier reserved its verdict on a police plea seeking a 30-day remand of Shahrez, who had been arrested on Wednesday night. 

ATC Judge Manzar Ali Gul announced the order after hearing arguments from both sides.

During the proceedings, Advocate Salman Akram Raja, who represented the suspect, argued that his client had been arrested two years after the Jinnah House attack. He told the court that Shahrez's mother, Aleema, had already been discharged from the same case and urged that the suspect should also be discharged.

Raja further questioned the police, asking what evidence they had against his client, maintaining that Shahrez had no connection with PTI’s political affairs. He again pressed the court to drop the charges against his client.

Police, however, opposed the request, saying that the suspect was involved in the Jinnah House attack in Lahore.

Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Asif Javed presented the case record in court, affirming the suspect's role in the incident.

After hearing arguments from both sides, the court reserved its decision on the request for physical remand, announcing that the verdict would be delivered in a while. 

Shahrez was taken into custody on Thursday, with police confirming the arrest early Friday after reports surfaced that he had been “taken by armed men” from his Lahore residence. 

DIG Investigation Zeeshan Raza said Shahrez was wanted in connection with the May 9 cases and would be presented in court, stressing that “those involved in anti-state activities do not deserve any leniency.”

The PTI, however, described the arrest as an "abduction". A party spokesperson claimed Shahrez was tortured in front of his two children and alleged that men in plain clothes broke into Aleema's home, "harassing" the family and staff. 

Raja, who is also PTI's secretary-general, also wrote on X that Aleema’s residence had been “attacked” and her son “abducted.”

The Jinnah House attack was one of the most high-profile incidents during the May 9, 2023, riots, which erupted after the arrest of Imran in a corruption case. The protests saw PTI supporters target public and private property, attack military installations — including the General Headquarters in Rawalpindi and Jinnah House (the Lahore Corps Commander’s House)  — and desecrate monuments of martyrs.