Lahore police declare Hammad Azhar's arrest after family seeks LHC intervention

• PTI leader had remained absconding for three years: police.
• Family says Azhar taken into custody two days ago from Multan.
• Azhar was wanted by police in Lahore and other cities: police.
  

LAHORE: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Hammad Azhar was formally arrested in multiple cases, police said on Monday, after his mother approached the Lahore High Court (LHC) seeking his recovery a day after police reportedly detained him in Multan.

A spokesperson for Lahore police said that Azhar had been wanted by Lahore police in 18 cases, while he had remained absconding for three years.

The spokesperson said that the investigation police arrested the PTI leader and would produce him before a court to seek his remand.

A charge sheet would be presented before the Anti-Terrorism Court after completing the investigation, the spokesperson added.

The mother of PTI leader earlier approached the LHC seeking Azhar's recovery.

The petition named Punjab Inspector General of Police, Lahore Capital City Police Officer and others as respondents, seeking orders to disclose Azhar's arrest and produce him before court.

According to the petition, the former federal minister was taken into custody from Multan two days ago but was not presented before a court.

The petitioner requested the court to order authorities to formally show Azhar's arrest, provide records of cases registered against him, and produce him before the court.

Azhar was reportedly handed over to Lahore police following his arrest in Multan, with police sources saying that the PTI leader — declared a proclaimed offender — was involved in multiple cases registered in connection with the May 9, 2023 riots.

Police sources confirmed earlier that Azhar had been taken into custody but his arrest could not yet be formally recorded.

Azhar, who served as the federal minister during the PTI's tenure at the Centre, resigned from the post of the party's Punjab chapter president in August 2024.

At the time, he cited the "lack of access" to jailed PTI founder and former prime minister Imran Khan and restrictions on his movements as the reasons behind his decision.

He had remained in hiding after being named in several cases stemming from the May 9 riots.

Thousands of supporters of the jailed party founder stormed public property and military installations, including the Corps Commander House in Lahore, on May 9, 2023, in protest against the former premier's arrest.

The riots erupted after the PTI founder was taken into custody from the premises of the Islamabad High Court (IHC) in a graft case.