A Gujranwala court has recently reserved its verdict on the plea of the Punjab Anti-Corruption Establishment (ACE) seeking a 14-day physical remand of Parvez Elahi, the President of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party. Elahi was brought before the court by ACE officials, one day after his arrest in Lahore. The officials had transported him from Lahore to their regional office in Gujranwala earlier in the day. The court proceedings involved the request for Elahi’s physical remand by the anti-corruption officials.
In a related development, a local court in Lahore had ordered the release of the PTI leader in connection with a corruption case involving Rs70 million in development funds allocated for the Gujrat district. However, moments later, Elahi was re-arrested in another corruption case filed against him by the Punjab ACE in Gujranwala. This new arrest prompted his transfer to Gujranwala, as anti-corruption sources revealed that two separate corruption cases, involving billions of rupees, had been registered against him in Gujranwala and Gujrat.
During the hearing, the investigation team informed the court about the two cases registered against Elahi in Gujranwala’s anti-corruption police station. They requested a 14-day physical remand to facilitate the investigation and recover the bribed money. Elahi, while speaking to his lawyer, expressed concerns about his treatment while in custody. He claimed that he had been kept in a police station without access to his prescribed medications and even denied basic facilities like using the bathroom.
After the hearing, Parvez Elahi addressed the media and stated that he will accept whatever decision the court makes. He emphasized that this situation is a test for the judiciary.
It is worth noting that the former Punjab chief minister has been implicated in two corruption cases in Gujranwala, involving allegations of receiving kickbacks in awarding contracts. Additionally, another case has been lodged against him in Lahore. A special judge of the anti-corruption court in Lahore had previously issued non-bailable arrest warrants for Elahi, with instructions to produce him by June 2. Two separate arrest warrants were issued on May 25 and May 26, following the cancellation of his bail.
One of the cases registered against Elahi by the ACE Gujranwala dates back to April. According to a report, the former Punjab CM was accused of accepting a Rs2 billion bribe in exchange for awarding a development scheme contract. In another case, an FIR No 6/23 was filed against him for allegedly taking a bribe of Rs120 million from a Turkish company associated with an international organization.
The anti-corruption court judge also declared Elahi’s medical certificate, which claimed chest pain, as bogus. This ruling suggests that the court may not view Elahi’s health concerns as a strong enough reason to grant him leniency.
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The verdict reserved by the Gujranwala court on Parvez Elahi’s physical remand will undoubtedly play a crucial role in determining the future course of action regarding the corruption charges against the PTI President. As the legal proceedings continue, it remains to be seen how the judiciary handles this high-profile case and how it impacts the political landscape in Pakistan.
