Islamabad, September 15, 2023 – Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) President Parvez Elahi has been granted bail in the case related to an attack on the judicial complex in the federal capital. An anti-terrorism court (ATC), presided over by Judge Abual Hasnat Zulqarnain, approved his bail petition on Friday.
Parvez Elahi’s release comes after he was arrested shortly after being released from National Accountability Bureau (NAB) custody on September 1. It’s worth noting that the Lahore High Court (LHC) had explicitly prohibited his arrest earlier on that day.
This incident marked the latest in a series of arrests and detentions for Parvez Elahi, stemming from his alleged involvement in the May 9 riots. He is accused of inciting rioters to vandalize the judicial complex in Islamabad, allegedly providing them with vehicles and batons. The police had sought his physical remand to question him about unidentified individuals and recover the vehicles used during the incident.
During the court proceedings, Elahi’s lawyer, Sardar Abdul Razzaq, highlighted that his client’s name was added to the First Information Report (FIR) six months after its initial filing. He argued that other prominent PTI leaders, including Chairman Imran Khan and Asad Umar, had already been granted bail in the same case, and requested similar treatment for his client.
However, the prosecution opposed the bail plea, with lawyer Babar Awan asserting that Elahi was not named in the FIR and that nothing substantial was recovered during his three-day physical remand. Awan stated that Parvez Elahi’s arrest was based on mere suspicion.
In response, Prosecutor Raja Naveed pointed out that the provisions under which the FIR was registered were non-bailable.
Judge Zulqarnain carefully considered the arguments and observed that Parvez Elahi had not been nominated in the Federal Judicial Complex (FJC) attack case. Furthermore, no significant evidence had been recovered during his physical remand.
After careful deliberation, the ATC judge approved Parvez Elahi’s bail application, granting him temporary freedom.
The case dates back to March 18 when PTI workers allegedly engaged in violence within the premises of the Federal Judicial Complex during Imran Khan’s court appearances. The workers reportedly pelted stones at authorities, injuring dozens of police and personnel. They also damaged numerous police vehicles and set fire to several others. Consequently, a terrorism case was registered against PTI workers for vandalism.
Read more: PTI President Parvez Elahi Rearrested by CTD Shortly After Release
In addition, an FIR was lodged against PTI Chief Imran Khan and other party leaders for their alleged involvement in attacking law enforcement officers, damaging property, and setting vehicles on fire.
Parvez Elahi’s release on bail marks a significant development in this ongoing legal saga, raising questions about the evidence against him and the nature of his alleged involvement in the judicial complex attack.
