The mother of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Hammad Azhar has approached the Lahore High Court (LHC), seeking the recovery of her son after he was reportedly taken into police custody in Multan.
The petition was filed on Monday, a day after reports emerged that Azhar had been detained. The petition names Punjab Inspector General of Police, Lahore Capital City Police Officer and other officials as respondents.
According to the petition, Azhar was taken into custody from Multan two days earlier but had not been produced before a court.
His mother has asked the LHC to direct authorities to formally disclose his arrest, provide details and records of the cases registered against him, and present him before the court.
Police reviewing arrest and pending cases
Police sources said Azhar was reportedly arrested in Multan and later handed over to Lahore police. However, they said his arrest had not yet been formally recorded.
The former federal minister has been declared a proclaimed offender and is wanted in connection with multiple cases registered in Lahore and other cities, according to police sources.
Officials said the legal status of Azhar’s arrest and the cases against him was currently being reviewed. They added that relevant case documents would be prepared and presented before the court.
The development comes after Azhar remained in hiding for an extended period following the registration of several cases against him linked to the May 9, 2023 riots.
Azhar’s political career and resignation
Azhar served as a federal minister during the PTI government’s tenure at the Centre. He later resigned as president of the party’s Punjab chapter in August 2024.
At the time, he cited what he described as a lack of access to PTI founder and former prime minister Imran Khan, who was in jail, as well as restrictions on his own movement.
May 9 Riots: PTI Leader Hammad Azhar Arrested in Multan
His resignation came amid a difficult period for the PTI, with several senior leaders facing legal cases following the May 9 unrest.
What happened on May 9, 2023?
The unrest erupted after Imran Khan was arrested from the premises of the Islamabad High Court in connection with a graft case.
Following his arrest, PTI supporters staged protests in several parts of the country. Demonstrators attacked or entered public buildings and military installations, including Lahore’s Corps Commander House.
The May 9 violence resulted in widespread arrests and the registration of numerous cases against PTI workers and leaders.
Azhar was subsequently named in several cases stemming from the unrest and remained out of public view.
His mother’s latest petition has now brought his reported detention before the Lahore High Court, where the legal status of his arrest and the cases against him is expected to come under scrutiny.
