LAHORE; An anti-terrorism court (ATC) in Lahore on Saturday dismissed a police request for further physical remand of PTI founding chairman Imran Khan’s nephew, Shahrez Khan, and instead sent him to jail on judicial remand in the May 9 riots case.
Shahrez, son of Imran’s sister Aleema Khan, was taken into custody on August 21 for his alleged involvement in the attack on Jinnah House.
The May 9, 2023 riots erupted nationwide after the arrest of the PTI founder in a corruption case. The unrest saw violent assaults on military and state institutions, with the Jinnah House attack becoming one of the most prominent incidents.
On Saturday, Lahore police produced Shahrez before ATC Judge Manzer Ali Gill at the end of his physical remand. The prosecution sought an extension to continue questioning, but the court turned down the request and ordered his judicial remand.
Both Shahrez and his brother Shershah face allegations of spearheading anti-state campaigns and participating in the May 9 violence.
Geo News quoting official sources said that their arrests are primarily linked to the Jinnah House attack. Shershah was reportedly present with PTI leader Hassan Niazi during the assault and had previously been charged in the same case. He is accused of arson, vandalism, torching a police van, and running a months-long anti-state digital campaign.
The sources further claimed that Shershah went into hiding following the riots and later fled to London, where he stayed for nearly two years.
