LAHORE: An anti-terrorism court (ATC) in Lahore on Monday granted a 20-day physical remand of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader and former federal minister Hammad Azhar in a May 9-related case. ATC Judge Malik Abid Hussain announced the decision after hearing the police’s request for Azhar’s physical remand. Azhar was produced before the Lahore ATC earlier on Monday after Lahore police formally arrested him in connection with 18 cases registered in the city. According to the Investigation Police spokesperson, Azhar had been declared a proclaimed offender and had remained in hiding for around three years. The spokesperson said police would obtain Azhar’s physical remand from the competent court to proceed with the investigation. After completing the investigation, police would submit the challan before the ATC, the spokesperson added. During the court proceedings, the judge directed media persons and other unrelated individuals to leave the courtroom. “Only lawyers and the investigating officer should remain in the courtroom,” the judge directed, adding that media representatives would be called back once the formal proceedings began. Azhar’s formal arrest was made in connection with 18 cases registered over the violence that erupted on May 9, 2023, following the arrest of PTI founder and former prime minister Imran Khan. The protests involved attacks on and vandalism of public and military installations in several parts of the country. Azhar had remained wanted in the cases and was subsequently declared a proclaimed offender, according to police. Azhar was formally arrested by Lahore police earlier on Monday in connection with 18 cases, according to the Investigation Police spokesperson. Police said that Azhar had remained in hiding for around three years and would be produced before the competent court to seek his physical remand. After completion of the investigation, the challan would be submitted before the anti-terrorism court. Azhar’s formal arrest comes in connection with cases registered over the May 9, 2023 violence, when protests erupted across the country following the arrest of PTI founder and former prime minister Imran Khan.