LAHORE; Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) senior leader and former federal minister Hammad Azhar has decided to approach the judiciary to seek relief in multiple cases registered against him in connection with the events of May 9, 2023.
According to reliable sources within the party, Azhar will soon file a formal bail plea in the Peshawar High Court (PHC), and preparations for this legal move have already begun.
The development comes amid an ongoing legal and political crackdown on PTI leaders and supporters following the widespread protests that erupted across the country last year on May 9, after the arrest of PTI founder and former prime minister Imran Khan.
Several party leaders, including Azhar, have been implicated in cases ranging from vandalism and arson to incitement of violence during those protests. The state has accused many PTI members of orchestrating attacks on sensitive installations and public properties.
Azhar, who has remained largely underground in recent months to avoid arrest, has now chosen to face the legal process. In a brief statement, he expressed hope that despite the challenging circumstances, the courts would uphold justice and grant him relief.
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader and former federal minister Hammad Azhar made a rare public appearance to attend the funeral of his father, veteran politician Mian Muhammad Azhar, in Lahore. This marked his first public outing in months since he reportedly went underground following multiple cases filed against him in connection with the May 9 violence.
Mian Muhammad Azhar, former Governor of Punjab and a founding member of the PML-Q, passed away on July 22 after a prolonged illness. His funeral prayers were offered near Gaddafi Stadium, and he was laid to rest in Lahore’s Garden Town.
Hammad Azhar’s attendance drew significant attention, especially as he has been avoiding public events due to legal proceedings. The event also saw an outpouring of condolences from prominent political leaders across party lines, highlighting the elder Azhar’s decades-long influence in national politics.
Sources indicate that Azhar has held detailed consultations with PTI’s general secretary and senior legal expert, Suleman Akram Raja. Following these discussions, the party’s legal team has begun drafting a comprehensive bail petition to be submitted to the PHC. Once bail is secured in the High Court, the strategy is to contest each of the cases in their respective trial courts.
Party insiders suggest this legal move is part of a broader strategy by PTI leadership to push back against what they describe as politically motivated cases. Several other senior PTI figures are also expected to follow suit in the coming weeks, as the party prepares for a renewed legal and political battle leading up to its planned protest movement in early August.
