Chaudhry Parvez Elahi arrested again by ACE Punjab moments after he got discharged in the graft case

LAHORE, June 02 (SABAH): The Anti-Corruption Establishment (ACE) rearrested Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf President and former chief minister Punjab Chaudhry Parvez Elahi from outside a Lahore court moments after he got discharged in the graft case on Friday.

The anti-corruption watchdog would shift the PTI leader to Gujranwala directorate as he had been wanted in another case lodged in the city. 

Meanwhile, ACE Director General Suhail Zafar Chatha said the department would move the court against the verdict announced by the Lahore court. “The verdict has been announced in contrast to the merit,” he added.

Earlier, the court had ordered the release of the PTI leader if he had not been wanted in any other case. Judicial Magistrate Ghulam Murtaza Virk announced the verdict which was reserved earlier. Parvez Elahi was brought to court in an armoured vehicle amid tight security while his family members, including son Rasikh Elahi, were present in the court.

The anti-corruption team has sought 14-day physical remand of the senior politician in order to interrogate him in the case. The judge announced the decision after hearing arguments from both sides. 

During the hearing, Elahi’s counsel Advocate Rana Intizar informed the court that all documents related to the projects are available.

“Anti-corruption watchdog is introducing its own law under which the judge hearing the cases will be of their choice,” the council said, adding that on January 17, 2023 a payment worth Rs360 million was made when Naqvi was the chief minister.

Speaking to media outside the court, the former Punjab chief minister Chaudhry Parvez Elahi said he was innocent and a “supporter of Pakistan Army”. In a message to the party workers, he asked them to stand firm and did not lose courage. Parvez Elahi urged the PTI party supporters to stay strong.

Elahi — while speaking to reporters before his appearance — said: “I am innocent and a supporter of Pakistan Army.” In his message to party workers and supporters, the former CM urged them to “stay strong”.

While speaking to a private TV channel, Elahi (without naming anybody) took a jibe at the former party leaders who announced their decision to part ways with Imran Khan, saying that he won’t hold any press conference. Elahi recalled that he did not make any political case against anyone and blamed Punjab CM Mohsin Naqvi for his current predicament. “Naqvi has done injustice to me.”

It should be noted that two cases have been registered in Gujranwala against the former Punjab chief minister on the charges of receiving kickbacks in awarding contracts while one case has been lodged in Lahore against the former chief minister.

Earlier, a special judge of the anti-corruption court in Lahore issued non-bailable arrest warrants for Elahi, ordering authorities to produce him by June 2. Two arrest warrants have been issued for the PTI leader. The first one was issued on May 25 after the cancellation of bail while the second one on May 26.

In April, the ACE Gujranwala filed a case against the PTI president citing a report based on sources, in which the former Punjab CM was accused of taking a Rs2 billion bribe for the contract of a development scheme.

In another case, an FIR No 6/23 was registered against Elahi for taking a bribe of Rs120 million from an international organisation — a Turkish company.

The anti-corruption court judge also declared Elahi’s medical certificate as bogus which claimed that he had been experiencing chest pain.