LAHORE: An anti-terrorism court (ATC) on Thursday extended physical remand of PTI leader Hammad Azhar for further 12 days in the Jinnah House attack case.
ATC Judge Sardar Muhammad Akram heard the case, during which the investigating officer (IO) sought an extension in the physical remand, saying that the police wanted to conduct a polygraph test of the suspect.
The IO alleged that Hammad was among those who commanded the attack.
Opposing the remand request, defence counsel Sikandar Zulqarnain argued that the IO had changed his stance regarding the recovery of evidence from his client.
At the previous hearing, the police had claimed that a baton and other items had been recovered, but now the IO was saying that the items were yet to be recovered, the counsel said.
He questioned what further recovery the police wanted when, according to the FIR, Hammad was not present at the alleged occurrence.
The counsel also questioned why the investigation had not been completed despite 37 days of physical remand. He asked the court to send his client to jail on judicial remand, arguing that further physical remand was unnecessary if the investigation had made no progress.
On the other hand, a state prosecutor stated that the FIR did not mention that Hammad was absent from the scene. He argued that the complainant might not have seen the suspect because he could have been standing at a distance.
Addressing the court, Hammad alleged that anti-terrorism laws were being used for political victimisation. He said successive dictators had used these laws to serve their political interests. He said the dignity of the court must be upheld.
He alleged that the police had changed their statements, first claiming that he was not present at the scene and later saying that a baton and petrol bombs had been recovered from him.
“Does anyone keep a baton and bombs for three and a half years?” he asked.
Hammad maintained that he was in Bhakkar on May 9, 2023, and claimed that he had not been interrogated for even a single day during his physical remand.
He asked the court to summon the complete record, including the report of a forensic examination conducted earlier, saying it would bring the truth to light.
After hearing both sides, the judge reserved the verdict on the remand request.
Later, announcing the decision, the judge extended the physical remand of Hammad for 12 days.
bail denied: A sessions court on Thursday dismissed the interim pre-arrest bail of a woman suspect in a case of alleged gang rape of an Azeri woman.
The suspect appeared before the court on expiry of her bail period.
The investigating officer told the court that the initial investigation had found the suspect guilty of the charges against her. She asked the court to dismiss the bail petition so that the suspect could be taken into police custody.
After hearing the police version, Additional District and Sessions Judge Rafaqat Ali reserved a verdict on the bail petition.
Later, the judge announced the decision, dismissing the bail petition.
However, the suspect/petitioner could not be arrested as she had already left the court premises.
Separately, a sessions court granted interim pre-arrest bail to a key suspect in the same alleged gang-rape case.
The suspect appeared before the court along with his legal counsel.
The counsel stated that his client had previously secured an interim protective bail from the Sindh High Court and travelled to Lahore.
He said the suspect wanted to join the police investigation against him, but there were apprehensions of his arrest.
The court granted pre-arrest bail to the suspect till Oct 21 and directed him to join the investigation before the next hearing.
Defence-C police had registered a case on the complaint of the Azeri woman, who accused three men of subjecting her to gang rape. She also accused two women of abetment in the crime.
Published in Dawn, October 16th, 2026
