Transit Remand
On Saturday, an Islamabad court granted the Punjab Anti-Corruption Establishment (ACE) one-day transit remand for PTI President Chaudhry Parvez Elahi in a graft case. This marked his “12th arrest” since June 1, following May 9 protests, as confirmed by his lawyer.
Elahi is one of several PTI leaders and workers arrested during the government’s crackdown on PTI leadership following violent riots in the country after Imran Khan’s initial arrest on May 9.
His latest detention came after an Islamabad anti-terrorism court (ATC) granted him bail in a case related to riots outside the Federal Judicial Complex (FJC) in March.
Elahi’s lawyer, Sardar Abdul Razzaq, clarified that the failure to submit the surety bonds for the previous bail resulted in his client’s custody by the ACE.
Razzaq mentioned that the Punjab ACE requested a five-day remand, but the court granted a one-day transit remand. They would transport Elahi to Lahore and present him before the relevant anti-corruption court the following day.
Regarding reports of Elahi being asked to hold a press conference, the lawyer stated that Elahi was resolute in his political stance and unwilling to conduct any such conference.
When asked about the former Punjab chief minister’s physical health, the lawyer acknowledged that he was elderly and a heart patient but maintained that he was in high spirits with strong morale.
Details of The FIR
The printed First Information Report (FIR) contains filled-in details of the time of reporting and sections invoked with a pen. Lahore ACE officer Tariq Mehmood filed the FIR on July 19 at Lahore ACE police station. It accuses then-CM Elahi of misusing authority in March 2021.
He allegedly colluded with Lahore Development Authority Director Amir Ahmed Khan to illegally modify the Lahore Master Plan 2050, including Kotli Rai Abu Bakar, resulting in a significant increase in the land value owned by Elahi’s sons, Moonis Elahi and Rasikh Elahi.
