Hammad Azhar Arrested in Multan Over May 9 Cases

MULTAN, Punjab: The Hammad Azhar arrest was confirmed by police sources on Sunday, with the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader detained in Multan and handed over to Lahore Police. Police sources said the former federal minister and National Assembly member was wanted in multiple cases stemming from the May 9, 2023 protests and violence following PTI founder Imran Khan's arrest. In January 2026, a Lahore Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) declared Azhar and six others proclaimed offenders in a case concerning the attack on the GOR Gate near Club Chowk. ATC Judge Manzer Ali Gill also issued perpetual arrest warrants after prosecutors said the accused repeatedly failed to appear before the court. Read: Hammad Azhar to Surrender in May 9 Cases The case, registered by Race Course Police Station as FIR No. 852/23, relates to violence at Club Chowk and the GOR area on May 9. Prosecutors had told the court that Azhar was already a proclaimed offender in other cases connected with the unrest. Azhar had announced in July 2025 that he intended to surrender before a court and challenge the cases against him, which he described as politically motivated and without legal basis. Separately, a Rawalpindi ATC sentenced Azhar and 46 other proclaimed offenders to 10 years in prison and a Rs500,000 fine each in March 2026 in the May 9 General Headquarters attack case.