ISLAMABAD: PTI President Chaudhry Parvez Elahi was re-arrested on Sunday immediately after a Lahore anti-corruption court acquitted him in a graft case related to the Lahore Master Plan 2050, according to his lawyer, Rana Intezar Hussain.
“He has been arrested in a terrorism case, and they were taking him to Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi,” Hussain said, according to officials.
Parvez Elahi, one of several PTI leaders and workers arrested during the state’s crackdown on PTI leadership after Imran’s initial arrest on May 9, appeared in court today following his arrest by the Punjab Anti-Corruption Establishment (ACE) in Rawalpindi yesterday. This marked the 12th time Elahi had been detained since June 1, following the May 9 incident, as stated by another of his lawyers, Sardar Abdul Razzaq.
While the court proceedings were ongoing, Elahi’s lawyer, Hussain, told Dawn.com over the phone that “anti-corruption officials have requested Elahi’s physical remand, but we are opposing their request.”
The court, having previously reserved its decision on ACE’s request, later dismissed Elahi and cleared him of the charges. The written order detailing the court’s decision is yet to be issued.
In the case, Elahi faced charges under Sections 109, 409, 420, 467, 468, and 471 of the Pakistan Penal Code, as well as Section 5 of the Prevention of Corruption Act 1947. The FIR, as seen by Dawn.com, had details of the time of reporting and invoked sections filled in with a pen. It was filed on July 19 at the Lahore ACE police station based on a complaint from Lahore ACE officer Tariq Mehmood.
Parvez Elahi’s Alleged Manipulation of Lahore Master Plan
According to the FIR, in March 2021, then-CM Elahi misused his authority and colluded with Lahore Development Authority Director Amir Ahmed Khan to illicitly alter the draft of the Lahore Master Plan 2050, including Kotli Rai Abu Bakar—an area in Kasur district. This alteration resulted in a substantial increase in the value of land owned by Elahi’s sons, Moonis Elahi and Rasikh Elahi, in Kotli Rai Abu Bakar.
Elahi was taken into custody by provincial anti-corruption authorities in the case from Adiala Jail in the garrison city, where he was detained in a riots case.
Following his arrest, Elahi was presented in an Islamabad court, which granted the ACE a one-day transit remand for PTI President to be produced in the relevant anti-corruption court in Lahore today.
Timeline of arrests
Since May 9, Parvez Elahi has faced a series of arrests and legal actions. Initially, he was arrested on June 1 for alleged kickbacks in development projects but was discharged the next day. However, he was re-arrested in a separate case in Gujranwala.
Multiple arrests and discharges followed in various corruption cases and allegations. These incidents included money laundering charges, illegal appointments, and embezzlement inquiries. Elahi faced detainment under Maintenance of Public Order (MPO) and was released by court orders, only to be re-arrested by different authorities. On Sept 15, he was granted bail in a riots case but was re-arrested the following day in connection with a Lahore Master Plan 2050 case. His release was delayed due to pending surety bonds fo
