Court Orders Five-Day Remand
A Lahore anti-terrorism court on Friday handed over Sher Shah Khan, nephew of former Prime Minister and PTI founder Imran Khan, to police on a five-day physical remand
Sher Shah is the son of Imran Khan’s sister Aleema Khan. He has been named in the Jinnah House attack case, which stems from violent protests that broke out across Pakistan on 9 May 2023 following Khan’s brief arrest.
Judge Manzar Ali Gill presided over the hearing at the anti-terrorism court. Before proceedings began, the judge directed media representatives to leave the courtroom and instructed that journalists should not bring mobile phones into future hearings, only pen and paper.
Prosecution Argues for 30-Day Custody
During the hearing, the prosecution argued that Sher Shah Khan was present at the scene of the Jinnah House attack, where firearms were allegedly used. Prosecutors claimed his presence is established through video evidence.
They further told the court that police needed extended custody to recover data from his social media accounts, and therefore requested a 30-day physical remand.
Sher Shah has been accused of participating in violent acts that targeted sensitive military installations, including the residence of a senior commander at Lahore’s Jinnah House. The incident drew widespread condemnation and led to hundreds of arrests across the country.
Defence Claims Arrest Was Illegal
Sher Shah’s lawyer, Salman Akram Raja, contested the prosecution’s claims. He told the court that the arrest was unlawful, pointing out that Sher Shah had been detained 27 months after the incident.
According to Raja, his client appeared in court just a day earlier alongside his brother in a separate proceeding, where he was taken into custody. The defence argued that such an arrest procedure undermined due process and was politically motivated.
After hearing arguments from both sides, the court reserved its decision briefly before granting a five-day remand instead of the 30 days sought by prosecutors.
Brother Also in Custody
Sher Shah’s arrest comes a day after his elder brother, Shahrez Azim, was presented before the same anti-terrorism court. Shahrez was handed over to police on an eight-day remand in connection with the same May 9 riots.
Both brothers are facing charges linked to the coordinated violence that erupted after Imran Khan’s arrest last year. Protesters stormed military installations, set fire to vehicles, and attacked public buildings in several cities, including Lahore, Rawalpindi, and Peshawar.
The unrest marked one of the most serious confrontations between Khan’s supporters and the country’s powerful military. Human rights groups later raised concerns over mass arrests, alleged custodial abuse, and restrictions on political dissent.
Context: The May 9 Unrest
On 9 May 2023, Imran Khan was detained by paramilitary forces in Islamabad in connection with a corruption case. His arrest triggered widespread protests nationwide. In Lahore, demonstrators breached the gates of Jinnah House, the residence of the Lahore Corps Commander, and vandalised the property.
The government labelled the violence as an “attack on the state,” while Khan’s PTI maintained that many of its supporters were peaceful and that the crackdown was disproportionate.
According to official figures, at least 10 people were killed and several hundred injured during the clashes. Authorities arrested more than 4,000 PTI workers and leaders, with dozens of cases later transferred to military courts.
What Comes Next
Sher Shah Khan will remain in police custody until his next hearing, where investigators are expected to present progress on their inquiries. His remand, like that of his brother, highlights the continuing fallout of the May 9 events more than a year later.
The PTI has denounced the arrests of Khan’s relatives as an attempt to weaken the party ahead of Pakistan’s political and electoral battles. Authorities, however, insist that all individuals directly involved in the attacks on military installations will be brought to justice.
The next hearing is scheduled for later next week, where the court will decide whether to extend Sher Shah’s custody or release him on bail.
