Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Hammad Azhar, who was declared an absconder in the May 9 Jinnah House attack case, escaped an arrest attempt in Lahore on Wednesday.
A police raid was conducted in the provincial capital's Jafaria Colony upon receiving a tip-off regarding Hammad’s presence in the area.
However, associates of the PTI leader raised a hue and cry after spotting the police team, reportedly enabling Azhar to slip out from the area.
According to the police, the two individuals who assisted the escape were later detained as facilitators.
A case has been lodged against both accused at the Shirakot police station on the charges of helping the wanted PTI leader escape arrest.
On December 10, an anti-terrorism court (ATC) in Lahore declared PTI’s 10 former and present leaders proclaimed offenders, including Hammad Azhar and Mian Aslam Iqbal, in a case registered against them in response to the May 9 riots.
Later on, on December 18, the government blocked the Computerised National Identity Cards (CNICs) of 18 PTI, including former ministers Hammad and Murad Saeed.
Authorities said the CNICs were blocked at the request of police and would remain blocked till the investigation concludes.
The authorities added that the party leaders would be deprived of legal rights if they did not appear before the anti-terrorism court (ATC).
