FIA arrests Pervaiz Elahi from Lahore jail

LAHORE, June 26 (SABAH): Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) President Pervaiz Elahi was arrested by the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) again on Monday on allegations of suspicious transactions against him.

The former Punjab chief minister was arrested by the FIA and taken from Camp Jail, Lahore, in an armoured vehicle. This is the sixth case for which the investigation agency arrested Elahi.

The FIA produced the senior politician before a district court and sought his 14-day physical remand. The investigating officer said that Elahi was arrested in a new case under suspicious transactions worth millions of rupees.

Elahi is facing a number of cases amidst an increased crackdown against PTI leaders. Last week, a Lahore special court granted the party president post-arrest bail in a money laundering case.

On June 21, Elahi was taken into custody by the FIA from the district jail in the case. The agency had requested physical custody but a district court denied it and sent the former Punjab chief minister to jail on judicial remand.

The FIA had accused him of money laundering via five companies and frontmen. Moreover, the Panama Papers scandal took a dramatic turn as the companies of Elahi and his son, Moonis Elahi, were implicated in the controversy.

The revelation has prompted the FIA to initiate a case against the former minister, with his arrest expected in the near future. The case against Pervaiz and Moonis includes charges of fraud, money laundering and corruption.