An anti-terrorism court on Saturday handed over former prime minister Imran Khan’s nephew, Shershah Khan, to police on a five-day physical remand in connection with the May 9 riots.
The order was passed by ATC Judge Manzar Ali Gill, a day after Shershah’s brother, Shahrez Khan, was remanded into police custody for eight days in the same case. Both were nominated in the case more than two years after the incident.
May 9 riots erupted nationwide following the arrest of Imran Khan, after which Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaaf (PTI) leaders and workers staged protests targeting both civil and military installations, including Jinnah House and the General Headquarters (GHQ) in Rawalpindi.
The military condemned the events as a "Black Day" and decided to try the protesters under the Army Act. Military court convicted 25 individuals, including Imran Khan’s nephew, Hassan Khan Niazi, and later sentenced 60 more. In January, 19 convicts had their sentences pardoned following successful mercy appeals.
According to court proceedings, Shahrez was arrested on August 21 and produced before the court on August 22, while Shershah was taken into custody on August 22 and presented the following day.
The prosecution argued that Shershah was present at the scene of the riots and that video evidence was available to establish his presence. Police had requested a 30-day physical remand to continue investigations and recover the accused’s social media accounts. The court, however, granted five days of custody instead.
PTI General Secretary Salman Akram Raja argued the 27-month delay in Shershah’s arrest was mala fide and victimisation, saying he had no political ties. Lawyer Rana Mudassar Umar added the delay showed prosecutorial ill intent, urging the court to discharge him.
A day earlier, the same court remanded Shahrez into police custody for eight days in connection with the May 9 riots. Police told the court that Shahrez had been nominated in two supplementary statements on September 23, 2023. Raja criticised the development as “ridiculous,” arguing that authorities had suddenly “remembered” the accused more than two years after the events, despite knowing he had no role in political activity.
He claimed Shahrez’s implication was part of a broader crackdown, pointing out that Aleema Khan’s house was raided soon after the Supreme Court granted Imran Khan post-arrest bail. Shahrez was in Chitral between May 6 and 13, he argued and urged the court to discharge him from the case. He added that Aleema Khan had already been discharged.
The judge asked the investigating officer to specify Shahrez’s alleged role. After briefly adjourning to review the case record, the court was told by police that the accused was not wanted in any other case linked to the May 9 riots. Raja further submitted that Shahrez is an athlete, warning that implicating him in such cases would send a “bad message” internationally.
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