In a special anti-corruption court session held in Lahore on Friday, the Anti-Corruption Establishment (ACE) was given a final opportunity to present the record of an illegal appointments case registered against PTI President Parvez Elahi.
The former Punjab chief minister was arrested last week in Gujranwala on allegations of accepting bribes amounting to Rs15 million during his tenure as the speaker of the provincial assembly. The charges were related to out-of-merit appointments on grade-17 posts within the assembly.
Following his arrest, Elahi was presented before a district court and subsequently sent to jail on a 14-day judicial remand. Seeking bail, Elahi approached the court, which issued an order stating its disappointment at the non-submission of the case record despite clear instructions given on multiple occasions.
The anti-corruption court has now directed the deputy prosecutor general for the state and Lahore Region-A ACE director to personally convey the court’s instructions to relevant officials. They are expected to ensure the production of the case record by tomorrow (Saturday), which is deemed their “last opportunity.” The court has also asked the deputy prosecutor general and ACE official to communicate the directives via various means, including telephone, mobile phone, WhatsApp, email, and fax, to the Lahore ACE director general, additional director general, and investigating officer.
In case of non-compliance with the court’s directive, non-bailable arrest warrants will be issued for the Lahore ACE additional director general and the investigating officer.
Parvez Elahi is among several PTI leaders and workers who have been arrested in the aftermath of the May 9 riots during protests over the detention of party chief Imran Khan by the Rangers at the Islamabad High Court premises. Other PTI members currently under arrest including Ali Muhammad Khan, Mehmoodur Rasheed, and others.
It is worth noting that Elahi was previously arrested by ACE officials on June 1 in a corruption case, but the court dismissed the charges against him. Subsequently, he was taken into custody again in two cases registered in Gujranwala, accusing him of causing a loss of Rs100 million to the national exchequer and receiving kickbacks during his tenure as Punjab chief executive. However, Elahi was discharged by the court in both cases, ordering his immediate release if he was not required in any other matter. Nevertheless, he was once again arrested, this time in relation to “illegal recruitments” within the Punjab Assembly.
The court has scheduled the appearance of the investigating officer and Lahore ACE additional director general tomorrow at 10 am to submit the case record.
