Mother Moves Lahore High Court Over Missing PTI Leader
Ishrat Azhar, mother of PTI leader Hammad Azhar, has turned to the Lahore High Court demanding authorities produce her son following conflicting reports of his arrest over the weekend. Filed through Barrister Abuzar Salman Niazi, the habeas corpus petition accuses law enforcement of holding Azhar in unrecorded custody without giving his family access.
Police Deny Custody While PTI Claims Detainment
Reports flared across social media claiming police had taken the former finance minister into custody regarding the May 9, 2023 riots. PTI leadership released a statement condemning the alleged arrest as political victimization. However, senior police officers in both Lahore and Multan told reporters they have no official record or knowledge of Azhar being picked up.
What the Court Filing Demands
The petition names several key officials as respondents, including the Punjab IGP, the Lahore CCPO, the DIG Operations, and the RA Bazaar SHO. In the filing, Ishrat Azhar asks the court to:
Order police to bring Azhar before a judge immediately and state the legal grounds for any detention.
Grant immediate access to defense lawyers and allow contact with his family.
Declare any detention without formal documentation unlawful.
History Behind the Case
Azhar the son of former Punjab governor Mian Muhammad Azhar has been on police radar since the May 9 unrest, specifically over an attack on the GOR-I gate in Lahore. Multiple anti-terrorism courts previously declared him a proclaimed offender after he missed legal proceedings. He spent nearly a year in hiding before reappearing publicly in May 2024, later stepping down as PTI Punjab president in April 2025.
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