- After the judge granted his release, Ch Parvez Elahi was re-arrested.
LAHORE: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) President Parvez Elahi was detained again on Friday, just moments after a Lahore court magistrate ordered his parole in a corruption case.
The PTI leader has been detained because of with a corruption complaint filed against him in Gujranwala.
The PTI politician was detained a day earlier by the Punjab Anti-Corruption Establishment in a Rs70 million corruption case involving the misappropriation of development money allocated for the Gujrat district.
Judicial Magistrate Ghulam Murtaza Virk issued the release orders while presenting his reserved judgement on a petition seeking Elahi’s physical remand.
“Ch Parvez Elahi should be released if he is not wanted in any other case,” said the judgement.
Judicial Magistrate Murtaza reserved the judgement after hearing the case of the former Punjab chief minister, in which the ACE Punjab demanded a 14-day physical remand.
Elahi’s lawyer, Advocate Rana Intizar, informed the court during the hearing that all project paperwork is there.
“Anti-corruption commission is introducing its own law under which the judge hearing the cases will be of their choice,” the council stated, adding that on January 17, 2023, a payment of Rs360 million was paid when Naqvi was arrested.
Earlier today, the former Punjab chief minister claimed innocence and declared himself a “supporter” of the Pakistan Army, encouraging party members to remain strong.
Elahi told reporters before his court hearing, “I am innocent and a supporter of the Pakistan Army.”
The former CM asked party workers and supporters to “stay strong” in his message.
Elahi (without identifying anyone) told that he will not conduct a news conference in response to former party leaders who declared their desire to cut ways with PTI president Imran Khan.
Elahi recalled that he made no political case against anyone and blamed his current situation on Punjab Chief Minister Mohsin Naqvi.
“Naqvi has treated me unfairly.”
- The Case:
It should be mentioned that two cases have been filed against the former Punjab chief minister in Gujranwala on accusations of accepting bribes in contract awarding, while one case has been filed against the former chief minister in Lahore.
Previously, a special judge of Lahore’s anti-corruption court issued non-bailable arrest warrants for Elahi, directing officials to present him by June 2. The PTI leader has been served with two arrest warrants. The first was issued on May 25 following the revocation of bail, and the second on May 26.
The ACE Gujranwala filed a case against the PTI president in April, claiming source-based evidence in which the former Punjab chief minister was suspected of taking Rs2 billion for a development scheme contract.
In another case, Elahi was charged with receiving a Rs120 million money from an international organisation – a Turkish corporation — under FIR No 6/23.
The anti-corruption court judge also deemed Elahi’s medical certificate, which stated he had chest symptoms, to be fake.
To read more: Ex-Punjab CM Usman Buzdar becomes latest PTI leader to quit politics
