LAHORE: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader and former Punjab party president Hammad Azhar has been arrested in connection with cases registered over the May 9, 2023 incidents, according to police sources.
The sources said Azhar was taken into custody by Multan police in Multan and was subsequently handed over to Lahore police.
Hammad Azhar Had Remained Wanted Since 2023
In this regard, Hammad Azhar had remained in hiding since the May 9 incidents and was declared a proclaimed offender in several cases.
An anti-terrorism court in Lahore had previously issued arrest warrants against him in connection with cases related to violence and arson following the arrest of PTI founder Imran Khan in May 2023.
In January 2026, an anti-terrorism court again declared Azhar and several other individuals proclaimed offenders in a May 9 case involving an attack near Club Chowk and the GOR Gate area.
The court also issued perpetual arrest warrants after the accused repeatedly failed to appear before it.
Azhar has been handed over to Lahore police, where further legal proceedings are expected to take place in the cases registered against him.
The cases relate to the widespread protests and violence that erupted across Pakistan on May 9, 2023. Several PTI leaders and workers have faced criminal and terrorism-related cases stemming from the incidents.
The latest development is expected to bring renewed attention to the legal proceedings against senior PTI figures who had remained absent from court proceedings.
The May 9 cases have remained one of the most contentious political and legal issues in Pakistan since 2023. Courts have continued proceedings against accused persons, with some facing convictions while others remain involved in ongoing trials.
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Hammad Azhar, a former federal minister and senior PTI figure, has been among the prominent party leaders facing legal proceedings related to the May 9 incidents. His arrest and transfer to Lahore police could now lead to further developments in the cases pending against him.
