The Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) in Lahore on Monday has granted police a 20-day physical remand of PTI leader Hammad Azhar in the Jinnah House attack case.
ATC Judge Malik Abid Hussain announced the decision after hearing arguments from the prosecution and defence.
Police produced Hammad Azhar before the court on Monday morning and requested his physical remand for further investigation into the May 9 violence.
The prosecution told the court that Azhar is a nominated suspect in the Jinnah House case. Investigators require his custody to collect further evidence, it said.
Prosecutors also sought permission to conduct a photogrammetric test of the PTI leader. They said investigators needed to recover a mobile phone allegedly used in connection with the unrest.
The prosecution further asked to examine social media accounts allegedly involved in a campaign linked to the May 9 incidents.
According to prosecutors, access to the accounts and other evidence could help investigators determine Azhar’s alleged role in the case.
Hammad Azhar’s lawyer strongly opposed the request for physical remand.
The lawyer also maintained that Azhar was not present at Jinnah House when the attack took place.
According to the defence, Azhar was in Gujranwala on May 9.
His lawyer asked the court to verify his location through geofencing and other location data.
The defence maintained that such data could establish where Azhar was during the incident.
After hearing both sides, the court reserved its decision and later approved a 20-day physical remand.
Police subsequently took the PTI leader into custody for further investigation.
Hammad Azhar wanted in 48 cases
Earlier, Lahore Police had formally arrested Hammad Azhar in connection with several cases.
Police told the court that Azhar was wanted in 48 cases across the country. Eighteen of these cases were registered in Lahore.
Officials said 17 of the 48 cases included terrorism-related charges.
Police said Azhar had remained unavailable to investigators for a considerable period. He was subsequently declared wanted, while several raids were conducted to arrest him.