LAHORE: An anti-terrorism court on Saturday declared five leaders of the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) proclaimed offenders (POs) in a case of May 9 riots for their constant failure to join the proceedings.

The suspects are former federal minister Hammad Azhar, former provincial minister Mian Aslam Iqbal, PTI Chairman Imran Khan’s nephew Barrister Hassaan Niazi, Ghulam Abbas and Ali Abbas.

Sarwar Road police nominated them in a case of torching police vehicles outside the Jinnah House during the May 9 riots.

The investigating officer filed an application with the court saying despite hectic efforts the suspects could not be traced out as they went into hiding for fear of arrest.

The IO said non-bailable arrest warrants had also been issued against the suspects but they failed to surrender to the law.

The court allowed the application and directed the IO to submit reports regarding moveable and immoveable assets of the suspects so that proceedings for the attachment of their property under Section 88 of CrPC could be started.

Previously, the court declared nine PTI leaders POs in the Jinnah House attack case.

The suspects include four former federal ministers Hammad Azhar, Murad Saeed, Azam Swati and Ali Amin Gandapur, former state minister Farrukh Habib, former provincial minister Mian Aslam Iqbal, Andleeb Abbas, Karamat Khokhar and Zubair Niazi.

REMAND:An anti-terrorism court on Saturday extended the judicial remand of former provincial minister Mian Mahmoodur Rashid and Senator Ijaz Chaudhry in a case of torching a container at Kalma Chowk during May 9 protests.

The police presented both PTI leaders before the court on expiry of their judicial remand.

The court extended the judicial remand of the suspects and directed the police to produce them again on Oct 21. The court also directed the police to submit challan in the case.

Naseerabad police had registered an FIR against the suspects.

Published in Dawn, October 8th, 2023