Lahore ATC Disposes of Plea for Hammad Azhar Family Meetings

LAHORE:
An anti-terrorism court (ATC) in Lahore has officially disposed of a petition filed by the mother and wife of incarcerated Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Hammad Azhar, which sought formal permission to meet the former federal minister currently held on physical remand.

ATC-IV Judge Sardar Muhammad Akram Khan issued the ruling, highlighting critical legal dimensions surrounding access to detainees. During the proceedings, the court noted that the prosecution counsel failed to provide a definitive response regarding Rule 26.28 of the Police Rules, 1934, which specifically governs family and legal access for individuals detained in police custody.

The legal battle also involves procedural history, as the judge observed that the petitioners had previously approached the Lahore High Court with a similar writ petition. That initial filing was subsequently dismissed as withdrawn, with the high court granting the family the liberty to seek appropriate remedies before the relevant forum.

Legal experts suggest that the latest ruling will likely prompt the defense counsel to approach higher judicial forums or re-file a more comprehensive plea to ensure the detained PTI leader receives guaranteed access to his legal counsel and immediate family members amid ongoing May 9 investigations.