An anti-terrorism court in Lahore on Monday approved 20-day physical remand of former federal minister and PTI leader Hammad Azhar and gave him into police custody in connection with a May 9 vandalism case.

Hammad Azhar was arrested from Multan two days ago and was subsequently handed over to Lahore Police.

Hammad Azhar was produced before Anti-Terrorism Court Judge Sardar Muhammad Akram in connection with the May 9 vandalism case. The court handed him over to Lahore Police for further investigation.

The investigating officer told the court that police needed to conduct a photogrammetric test on Hammad Azhar and carry out a forensic examination of his social media accounts. The officer said the incident had been carried out as part of a conspiracy and requested 14 days of physical remand.

The court, however, approved 20 days of physical remand and ordered that Hammad Azhar remain in police custody.

Lahore Police have registered a case against the former federal minister over an alleged provocative speech and for allegedly inciting workers. Police also said that Hammad Azhar has been declared a proclaimed offender in three cases.

He was brought to court under tight security. PTI leaders and workers have been accused of attacking Jinnah House during the May 9 violence. A case relating to the alleged attack on Jinnah House was registered at Sarwar Road Police Station under FIR No 96/23.

A Lahore Police investigation spokesperson said Hammad Azhar was wanted by police in 48 cases, including 17 cases registered under terrorism-related sections. The spokesperson said he was wanted by Lahore Police in 18 cases.

Meanwhile, Hammad Azhar’s mother approached the Lahore High Court (LHC) on Monday seeking his son’s recovery.

In her petition, the Punjab Inspector General of Police, Lahore Capital City Police Officer and other officials were named as respondents. She requested the court to direct authorities to disclose Azhar’s arrest, provide details of the cases registered against him and produce him before the court.

According to the petition, the former federal minister had been taken into custody from Multan but had not been presented before a court.  

Hammad Azhar was arrested in Multan after remaining underground for a long period. According to police sources cited , he was arrested there and later handed over to Lahore Police.

Police said he was wanted in several cases linked to the violence of May 9, 2023, and had been declared a proclaimed offender in connection with the cases since that date.

The latest development follows Hammad Azhar’s brief return home in July 2025 after the death of his father, former federal minister and former Punjab governor Mian Muhammad Azhar. He had reportedly spent about two years in hiding.

However, that Hammad Azhar had disappeared again. Sources told the channel that he had gone into hiding to avoid arrest after police raided his home two days earlier.

Five days before that report, the channel had said Hammad Azhar was considering voluntarily appearing before a court and seeking bail. According to sources, he had consulted close associates and his legal team about appearing before the court.

The sources said that if bail was refused, Hammad Azhar was prepared to face arrest and imprisonment.

His brief return and subsequent disappearance had led to renewed speculation in political circles. His arrest in Multan has now brought his prolonged period of avoiding arrest to an end, according to police sources.

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