Web Desk
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) President Parvez Elahi has been arrested once again on Friday, shortly after a judicial magistrate in Lahore ordered his release in an embezzlement case. This time, he has been arrested in a corruption case registered against him in Gujranwala.
Elahi was initially arrested by the Anti-Corruption Establishment Punjab on the previous day in a corruption case involving the embezzlement of development funds worth Rs70 million allocated for the Gujrat district.
The release orders were issued by Judicial Magistrate Ghulam Murtaza Virk, who had reserved the verdict on a plea seeking Elahi’s physical remand. The verdict stated that Elahi should be released if he is not wanted in any other case.
During the hearing, Elahi’s counsel, Advocate Rana Intizar, informed the court that all documents related to the projects were available and raised concerns about the Anti-Corruption watchdog introducing its own law, allowing them to influence the judge hearing the cases.
Earlier in the day, before appearing in court, Elahi proclaimed his innocence and emphasized his support for the Pakistan Army. He urged his party supporters to remain strong during this time.
Elahi took a jab at former party leaders who recently announced their decision to leave PTI, without naming anyone. He stated that he would not hold any press conference and recalled that he did not make any political case against anyone. He placed blame on Punjab Chief Minister Mohsin Naqvi for his current predicament, accusing Naqvi of injustice.
It is important to note that two cases have been registered against Elahi in Gujranwala, accusing him of receiving kickbacks in awarding contracts, while another case has been lodged against him in Lahore. Non-bailable arrest warrants were issued for Elahi by a special judge of the anti-corruption court in Lahore, with instructions to produce him by June 2. The first arrest warrant was issued on May 25 after the cancellation of bail, followed by a second one on May 26.
One case filed by the ACE Gujranwala alleges that Elahi took a Rs2 billion bribe for a development scheme contract, based on a report from sources. In another case, an FIR was registered against him for accepting a bribe of Rs120 million from a Turkish company, an international organization.
The anti-corruption court judge deemed Elahi’s medical certificate, which claimed he was experiencing chest pain, as bogus.
