Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) senior leader Hammad Azhar has announced that he will surrender before the court in connection with the ongoing May 9 cases filed against him. The announcement came through a heartfelt message on social media platform X (formerly Twitter), just days after the passing of his father, veteran politician Mian Muhammad Azhar.
In his message, Azhar thanked all those who extended condolences and stood by his family during their time of grief. “I am deeply thankful to all who supported us. My family, especially my mother, has endured this ordeal more than anyone else,” he wrote. Azhar described himself as the only son of his parents and father to two young children, highlighting the emotional toll of the past two years.
Reflecting on the difficult journey, he expressed a desire to remain close to his family and support his grieving mother. At the same time, he maintained his innocence and called the May 9 violence cases “fabricated and baseless.” Azhar said he has full faith in the legal system and will contest the allegations in court.
This marks Hammad Azhar’s first public appearance since going into hiding in the aftermath of the nationwide crackdown on PTI leaders following the May 9 protests. His return to the public eye follows the death of his father, after which he emerged from concealment to attend the funeral.
Azhar emphasized that his decision to face the courts stems from a commitment to justice and a desire to clear his name. The PTI leadership has repeatedly claimed that its members are being falsely implicated in the May 9 incidents, which involved protests and vandalism following the arrest of former Prime Minister Imran Khan.
