An Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) in Lahore on Thursday granted police eight-day physical remand of PTI founder Imran Khan’s nephew, Shahrez Khan, in a May 9 riots case, over two years after his name was linked to the investigation.
Shahrez was reportedly arrested on August 21 from his residence. PTI leaders claimed unidentified men stormed Aleema Khan’s house late Wednesday night, assaulted staff, harassed family members, and dragged Shahrez from his room in front of his children.
Police later implicated him in the Jinnah House attack case through supplementary statements filed in September 2023. During the hearing, police requested a 30-day remand, but Shahrez’s lawyer Salman Akram Raja opposed, calling the arrest after 27 months “baseless.” He argued Shahrez was in Chitral during the riots and had no political role, stressing that Aleema Khan had already been cleared of the same charges.
The defence also argued the delay in arrest suggested “mala fide intent,” while insisting Shahrez was an athlete with no political involvement. PTI condemned the move, accusing authorities of targeting Imran Khan’s relatives and supporters to weaken the party.
Judge Manzar Ali Gill approved an eight-day remand for further investigation.
