Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Hammad Azhar has reportedly been arrested in Multan, according to sources and PTI officials, although local police officials deny any knowledge of his arrest. The PTI claims this is a case of "political vengeance" and demands that Azhar be presented in court if there is a legitimate case against him. No confirmation has been received from police in Multan or Lahore, where he was allegedly handed over to investigators related to the May 9, 2023 riots. The PTI alleges that Azhar is being targeted for his involvement with the party and its planned march on September 27.
Written by the local model on 2026-09-07,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
The PTI (Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf) party claimed that Hammad Azhar, the former finance minister, was arrested in Multan in a case related to the May 9, 2023 riots. However, police officials denied any knowledge of his arrest, with Multan Regional Police Officer Usman Akram Gondal saying he had no information about it. The PTI accused the government of "political vengeance" and demanded that Azhar be presented in court if there was a criminal case against him, and called for an end to what they see as a series of retaliatory actions on political grounds. The alleged arrest occurred without confirmation from Lahore police, where Azhar is reportedly being held.
Written for “Pakistani Opposition Leader Arrested” on 2026-09-07,
grounded in this article and the 0 other(s) covering the same event.
Why this leaning score
The article's own words the score was based on. Each is quoted
verbatim and was checked against the article text before being
stored, so you can find it in the original.
Leaning score +0.35 for article 6002 (high confidence, 1 verified quote) · logged 2026-09-07
The PTI on Sunday claimed that its leader Hammad Azhar has been arrested, denouncing the action as “political vengeance”.
asserted
leader → claim → vengeance
While police officials said they were unaware of his arrest, sources said the PTI leader was taken into custody in Multan in a case pertaining to the May 9, 2023 riots.
uncertain
leader → say → riots
Replying to a query, Multan Regional Police Officer (RPO) Usman Akram Gondal told Dawn that he was unaware of any arrest and did not have any information.
asserted
he → reply → information
According to reports circulating online, the PTI leader was handed over to the Lahore police over his alleged involvement in a May 9 case.
uncertain
leader → accord → case
However, Lahore Investigation Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Muhammad Naveed said that he had no confirmation about Azhar’s arrest or handover to Lahore police.
asserted
he → say → police
In its statement, the PTI termed the former finance minister’s arrest “the worst example of political vengeance and fascism”.
asserted
PTI → term → vengeance
The party demanded that Azhar be immediately presented in court if there was a criminal case against him, his fundamental and legal rights be ensured, and the “series of political vengeance be halted”.
asserted
series → demand → vengeance
“Hammad Azhar is being continuously targeted with retaliatory actions on political grounds.
asserted
Azhar → target → grounds
The government is recklessly using state power to suppress political opponents and silence the voice of PTI,” it alleged.
asserted
it → use → PTI
Former opposition leader in NA, Omar Ayub, also claimed on X that Azhar has been arrested.
asserted
Azhar → claim → X
“Strongly condemn this act,” the PTI leader wrote, alleging that the move aimed to “thwart” the party’s march planned for September 27.
asserted
move → condemn → September
Moonis Elahi, son of PTI President Parvez Elahi, said Azhar had been arrested in “various false cases”.
asserted
Azhar → say → cases
In April 2025, Azhar had stepped down as the president of the party’s Punjab chapter for the third time, after his two previous resignations were rejected.
asserted
resignations → step → time
Azhar reappeared in public on May 22, 2024, a year after he had gone into hiding when the state launched a crackdown against the party leadership following the violent incidents of May 9.
uncertain
state → reappear → May
The PTI leader had evaded arrest by the Counter-Terrorism Department, which raided the PTI secretariat in Islamabad.
asserted
which → evade → Islamabad
A police spokesperson said at the time that Azhar is wanted in three separate cases by the capital police, including two registered with Ramna police and one filed in 2023 with the CTD.
asserted
Azhar → say → CTD
