LAHORE:
An anti-terrorism court (ATC) in Lahore delivered the nephew of the founder of Pakistan Tehreek-E-Insaf (PTI) on Thursday, Imran Khan, Shahrez Khan, to the Police for eight days of physical row in relation to a case of Riots of May 9, more than two years after his name appeared in the investigation.
Shahrez was arrested on the night of August 21 of his residence, according to PTI leaders, the arrest occurred on Wednesday night when a group of unidentified people entered the house of Aleem Khan by force. The party officials said that the home personnel were assaulted, family members harassed and Shahrez took their room in front of their children.
Later, the police implied it in the case of attack of the Jinnah House through two supplementary statements presented on September 23, 2023. It was produced before the ATC judge, Manzar Ali Gill, where the police sought a 30 -day physical rowing for a greater investigation and recovery of material allegedly in his possession.
The defense, directed by the main lawyer Salman Akram Raja, strongly challenged the application, qualifying Shahrez’s arrest after 27 months “ridiculous.” Raja argued that the defendant had no political participation and was being “agreed without evidence.” He told the court that Shahrez had been in Chitral between May 6 and 13, 2023, and pointed out that Aleem, Shahrez’s mother, had already been discharged from the same case.
Raja also argued that “such extensive delay in the arrest of someone reflects the intention of bad trust.”
Read more: Imran’s nephew ‘collected’ in Lahore Raid: PTI
During the procedures, the ATC judge asked the investigating officer about Shahrez’s alleged role.
Police acknowledged that the defendant was not sought in any other case related to May 9, but the Prosecutor’s Office said his name appeared in multiple records.
The defense lawyers argued that Shahrez was an athlete and that he was being unnecessarily involved. This “would send a bad message internationally,” said the lawyers.
The PTI insists that he had no participation in political activities and was being attacked solely for his family ties.
The party has accused the government of systematically attacking family members and supporters of Imran in an effort to further dismantle the PTI political base.
