An anti-terrorism court (ATC) in Lahore has ordered a 14-day judicial remand for Shershah, the nephew of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan, in a case related to the May 9 riots. The decision came after the expiration of his initial five-day physical remand, with the court deciding to send him to jail rather than grant the police’s request for further physical custody. Shershah is the son of Imran Khan’s sister, Aleema Khan, and his arrest follows that of another nephew, Shahrez Khan, earlier last week.
During the hearing concerning the attack on Jinnah House—a key incident in the May 9 violence—the police sought a 30-day extension of his physical remand. The investigation team presented a video as evidence, contending that it showed Shershah standing with Hassan Niazi, another nephew of the jailed PTI founder, during the riots. The police allege his involvement in arson, vandalism, and running an anti-state digital campaign.
In defense, Shershah’s lawyer, Salman Akram Raja, challenged the validity of the video evidence. He argued that his client’s mere presence in a video does not constitute proof of criminal activity. After considering the arguments from both sides, ATC Judge Manzar Ali Gill approved the judicial remand, denying the police’s request for an extended physical investigation period.
The May 9 riots, which saw attacks on military and state installations, broke out across Pakistan following the arrest of Imran Khan in 2023. Sources indicate that Shershah was initially booked in the Jinnah House case, accused of being present during the attack. He allegedly fled to London afterwards and remained abroad for nearly two years before his recent arrest on August 22.
