LAHORE: An anti-terrorism court (ATC) on Thursday extended the physical remand of PTI leader Hammad Azhar by 12 days in the Jinnah House attack case related to the May 9 riots.

Sarwar Road police had booked several PTI leaders and workers on charges of attacking and vandalising Jinnah House during the protests against the arrest of former prime minister Imran Khan.

ATC Judge Sardar Muhammad Akram heard the case. During the hearing, the investigating officer (IO) sought an extension in the physical remand, saying the police wanted to conduct a polygraph test on the suspect.

The IO alleged that Hammad was among those who led the attack.

Opposing the request for an extension in remand, defence counsel Sikandar Zulqarnain argued that the IO had changed his stance on the recovery of evidence from his client.

At the previous hearing, the police had claimed that a baton and other items had been recovered. However, the IO was now saying that the items were yet to be recovered, the counsel said.

He questioned what further recoveries the police wanted to make when, according to the first information report (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.

The state prosecutor, however, argued that the FIR did not state that Hammad was absent from the scene.

He said 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 and added that 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 an earlier forensic examination report, saying it would bring the truth to light.

After hearing arguments from both sides, the judge reserved the verdict on the remand request.

Later, the judge announced the decision and extended Hammad’s physical remand by a further 12 days.