LAHORE (Dunya News) - Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader and former federal minister Hammad Azhar has been arrested in Multan in connection with cases registered over the May 9, 2023 riots, police sources said on Sunday.
According to the sources, Azhar was taken into custody in Multan and later handed over to Lahore Police for further legal proceedings.
The former National Assembly member is facing several cases related to the May 9 unrest. Police sources said he had been declared a proclaimed offender since May 9, 2023.
Azhar served as federal finance minister during the PTI government and later headed the party's Punjab chapter. He resigned as PTI Punjab president in August 2024, citing limited access to incarcerated party founder and former prime minister Imran Khan, along with restrictions on his movements.
Following the registration of cases against him over the May 9 incidents, Azhar remained in hiding for an extended period.
The May 9 violence erupted after Imran Khan was arrested from the premises of the Islamabad High Court in connection with a graft case. His arrest triggered protests across the country, during which PTI supporters targeted public and military installations.
Among the sites attacked were the Corps Commander House in Lahore and the General Headquarters (GHQ) in Rawalpindi.
The unrest marked one of the most serious episodes of violence involving military installations in the country's recent history.