The PTI on Sunday claimed that its leader Hammad Azhar has been arrested, denouncing the action as “political 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.

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.

According to reports circulating online, the PTI leader was handed over to the Lahore police over his alleged involvement in a May 9 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.

In its statement, the PTI termed the former finance minister’s arrest “the worst example of political vengeance and fascism”.

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”.

“Hammad Azhar is being continuously targeted with retaliatory actions on political grounds. The government is recklessly using state power to suppress political opponents and silence the voice of PTI,” it alleged.

Former opposition leader in NA, Omar Ayub, also claimed on X that Azhar has been arrested.

“Strongly condemn this act,” the PTI leader wrote, alleging that the move aimed to “thwart” the party’s march planned for September 27.

Moonis Elahi, son of PTI President Parvez Elahi, said Azhar had been arrested in “various false 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.

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.

The PTI leader had evaded arrest by the Counter-Terrorism Department, which raided the PTI secretariat in 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.