Eight PTI leaders including Murad Saeed, Hammad Azhar declared absconders in May 9 case

ATC also issued permanent arrest warrants for absconding PTI leaders, who are accused of being involved in protests

A court has declared eight senior leaders of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), including Murad Saeed and Hammad Azhar, as absconders in a case related to the burning of containers during the 9 May protests, Express News reported.

The anti-terrorism court in Lahore, presided over by Judge Arshad Javed, declared the PTI leaders absconders in the case concerning the incidents at Kalma Chowk on 9 May. Other PTI leaders named in the court's ruling include Mian Aslam Iqbal, Zubair Khan Niazi, Hamid Raza Gilani, Mohammad Javed, Abdul Samad, and Waseeq Qayoom.

The court also issued permanent arrest warrants for the absconding leaders, who are accused of being involved in the violent protests that followed the arrest of PTI Chairman Imran Khan.

The action was taken following a request from police, who claimed that the suspects had gone into hiding to avoid arrest. Despite the warrants being issued, the accused have not been apprehended.

This development comes as part of a wider crackdown on PTI leaders involved in the unrest on 9 May, which resulted in significant damage to public and private property.