LAHORE: The police on Tuesday registered another case against Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf leaders Hammad Azhar, Aliya Hamza, PTI Lahore President Sheikh Imtiaz and 40 workers of the party for allegedly attacking the police.

The first information report was registered on the complaint of Kahna sub-inspector Mohammad Nouman who alleged that Hammad Azhar was a proclaimed offender in the police record and he had appeared at the stage when the PTI arranged a public meeting in Kahna area on Saturday last.

He said the police teams immediately rushed to the site for the arrest of Hammad Azhar where PTI’s other leaders including Aliya Hamza, Sheikh Imtiaz and 40 workers attacked the police and facilitated Hammad to escape from the scene.

Pre-arrest bail: A sessions court on Tuesday granted pre-arrest bail to PTI former MNA Aliya Hamza Malik in a case of assisting former federal minister Hammad Azhar, a proclaimed offender, in fleeing from Lahore rally and tearing a police officer’s uniform.

Ms Malik along with her lawyer appeared before the court of Additional District and Sessions Judge Zubair Ghouri.

The counsel argued that the FIR against the petitioner had been registered with a delay of four days after the alleged incident. He said the petitioner had been deliberately implicated in the case only to harass her.

He asked the court to grant interim pre-arrest bail as there was a likelihood of her illegal arrest by the police.

The judge allowed the bail to Ms Malik till Oct 19 subject to furnishing surety bonds.

Kahna police registered the case accusing Ms Malik and other leaders of the PTI of helping Hammad Azhar escape from the rally and tearing a police officer’s uniform.

Mr Azhar has been declared a PO by the courts in several cases of May 9 riots.

Published in Dawn, September 25th, 2024