Hammad Azhar Arrested in Multan Over May 9 Cases

LAHORE: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf leader and former federal minister Hammad Azhar has been arrested in Multan in connection with cases registered over the May 9, 2023 unrest, according to police sources. His detention marks a major development in legal proceedings that have remained pending against the senior PTI figure for several years.

Police sources said Azhar was taken into custody in Multan before being handed over to Lahore Police for further legal proceedings. The cases relate to the violent protests that followed the arrest of PTI founder and former prime minister Imran Khan in May 2023. Authorities have pursued multiple suspects and party figures in connection with incidents that occurred during those demonstrations.

Azhar is facing several cases linked to the May 9 unrest. Police sources said he had been declared a proclaimed offender after failing to appear in proceedings connected with the cases. His arrest means investigators and courts can now move ahead with the legal processes in which his physical presence had previously been sought.

The PTI leader served in several senior positions during the party's federal government, including as finance minister, and later headed PTI's organisation in Punjab. He resigned as the party's Punjab president in August 2024, citing limited access to imprisoned PTI founder Imran Khan and restrictions affecting his political activities and movements.

Following the registration of the May 9 cases, Azhar remained out of public reach for an extended period. His legal situation has therefore remained closely connected with the wider prosecution of people accused of involvement in the unrest. The latest arrest brings one of the more prominent PTI figures associated with those cases directly into police custody.

The May 9 violence began after Imran Khan was arrested from the Islamabad High Court premises in a graft case. Protests subsequently spread across several cities, and public as well as military installations were attacked. Among the prominent sites targeted were the Corps Commander House in Lahore and the General Headquarters in Rawalpindi, making the unrest one of the most consequential episodes involving attacks on military property in Pakistan's recent political history.

Azhar's transfer to Lahore Police is expected to be followed by further procedural and court action in the cases registered against him. The immediate focus will be on how investigators and relevant courts proceed following his arrest, while the development is also likely to draw close attention from PTI because of Azhar's previous senior roles in the party and federal government.