An Islamabad court has granted the Punjab Anti-Corruption Establishment (ACE) a one-day transit remand for PTI President Chaudhry Parvez Elahi in a graft case.
This is “12th arrest” of Parvez Elahi since June 1, following the protests on May 9, according to his lawyer.
His latest detention comes just a day after an Islamabad anti-terrorism court (ATC) granted bail to the former Punjab chief minister in a case related to the riots outside the Federal Judicial Complex (FJC) in March.
However, Chaudhry Parvez Elahi had not been released from Adiala jail as the surety bonds for his bail had not been submitted, leading to his subsequent arrest by the ACE.
According to Elahi’s lawyer, Sardar Abdul Razzaq, the Punjab ACE had requested a five-day remand, but the court granted only a one-day transit remand.
Chaudhry Parvez Elahi will now be transported to Lahore and presented before the relevant anti-corruption court tomorrow.
Responding to questions about reports of Elahi being asked to hold a press conference, Razzaq stated that Elahi was resolute in his political stance and was not inclined to hold any press conference.
Regarding Elahi’s physical health, the lawyer acknowledged that he is an elderly person and a heart patient but emphasized that his client was in high spirits and had high morale.
The FIR filed against Chaudhry Parvez Elahi alleges various offenses, including criminal breach of trust, cheating, forgery, and corruption. It asserts that Elahi misused his authority in March 2021, colluding with Lahore Development Authority Director Amir Ahmed Khan to improperly modify the Lahore Master Plan 2050, which included an area in Kasur district known as Kotli Rai Abu Bakar.
This modification significantly increased the value of land owned by Elahi’s sons, Moonis Elahi and Rasikh Elahi, in Kotli Rai Abu Bakar.
The FIR cites multiple sections of the Pakistan Penal Code, including abetment, criminal breach of trust, cheating, forgery, and the use of forged documents. Additionally, it invokes section 5 of the Prevention of Corruption Act 1947, relating to criminal misconduct.
