A Lahore court has declined the Punjab Anti-Corruption Establishment’s (ACE) petition for the physical remand of PTI President Parvez Elahi in two cases involving illegal appointments and, instead, has placed him in a 14-day judicial remand.
Elahi is one of several PTI leaders and workers who have been apprehended as part of the state’s crackdown on PTI leadership following the violent protests in the country after Imran Khan’s initial arrest on May 9.
Since June 1, he has been arrested multiple times in various cases, with the number of his arrests exceeding 12 since then, according to one of his lawyers.
His most recent arrest was carried out by the Punjab ACE on charges related to the appointment of Muhammad Khan Bhatti as his principal secretary during his tenure as the chief minister. The ACE alleged that Bhatti’s appointment did not adhere to legal requirements.
Anti-corruption officials presented him before a district court, presided over by judicial magistrate Imran Abid, today.
Elahi’s legal representatives, Amir Saeed, and Rana Intizar, raised objections to the ACE’s request for their client’s remand.
Saeed, in particular, contested the ACE lawyer’s arguments for the physical remand of the PTI leader, stating, “The prosecutor’s arguments do not relate to the case for which they have sought his remand.”
In response, the ACE lawyer stated that they were seeking Elahi’s remand in two cases: one concerning Bhatti’s appointment and the other regarding alleged illegal appointments in the Punjab Assembly.
Elahi was initially arrested in connection with the recruitment in the Punjab Assembly on June 3. The case revolved around the unlawful hiring of 12 Grade-17 officers in the provincial assembly, with Elahi being accused of manipulating the testing service results to select preferred candidates.
Intizar, Elahi’s lawyer, informed the court today that the Lahore High Court (LHC) had already granted protective bail to the PTI leader in the case.
However, the ACE’s lawyer argued that the case of illegal appointments in the assembly was “a significant scandal” and that Elahi’s remand was necessary for further investigation.
“The recruitment records need to be retrieved. Billions of rupees received by Parvez Elahi in bribes need to be recovered,” the lawyer asserted.
At one point, Elahi’s counsel, Intizar, contended that the LHC had prohibited authorities from arresting his client in any case. “Nevertheless, he was arrested multiple times in violation of court orders.”
He further claimed that Elahi was in the custody of the ACE when the first information report (FIR) regarding alleged illegal appointments at the Punjab Assembly was filed against him.
“The FIR is based on malice. No inquiry was conducted prior to registering the case,” he argued, urging the court to dismiss the ACE’s request for Elahi’s remand in both cases.
“Both cases are motivated by malice. [Elahi] should be exonerated in these cases,” he stated, adding, “All of Parvez Elahi’s problems would be resolved if he holds a press conference today.”
The lawyer contended that Elahi was facing “baseless charges.”
Following arguments from both sides, the court reserved its decision on the ACE’s request. Subsequently, the request was denied, and Elahi was placed in a 14-day judicial remand.
After the court’s decision, Elahi requested to be sent to Adiala Jail, but ACE officials objected, suggesting he should be held in a Lahore prison. Nevertheless, the judge directed officials to transfer Elahi to Adiala Jail.
