LAHORE MIRROR — Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) President Parvez Elahi found himself in a whirlwind of legal developments today, as he was rearrested shortly after being granted release by the Lahore High Court (LHC) in connection with a corruption case.
The Islamabad Police took action against Elahi on Lahore’s Canal Road as he was en route to his residence following the court’s orders.
Earlier in the day, the LHC had issued an order directing the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) to release Parvez Elahi while also preventing any further arrests of him in ongoing or future cases. This decision came during a hearing presided over by Justice Amjad Rafiq, where a petition challenging NAB’s arrest of Elahi in a case involving alleged bribes and kickbacks in exchange for securing contracts for road projects in Gujrat Highways Division was being considered.
In a post-hearing statement to the media, Parvez Elahi took the opportunity to criticize the Pakistan Muslim League – Nawaz (PML-N). He asserted that whenever the PML-N had been in power, it had consistently contributed to rising inflation and economic troubles, often resorting to seeking refuge in London. Elahi also expressed concern about the PML-N’s impact on the nation and mentioned that even the International Monetary Fund (IMF) had recommended holding elections.
During the court proceedings, Justice Amjad Rafiq issued a directive to NAB, ordering the production of Chaudhry Parvez Elahi within one hour. Following this order, NAB’s Lahore chapter promptly presented Elahi before the court, implementing rigorous security measures for the occasion.
Justice Amjad Rafiq raised questions about the status of an intra-court appeal during the hearing, to which the NAB prosecutor claimed ignorance. In response, Justice Amjad Rafiq emphasized the need for a thorough inquiry and promptly ordered the release of Parvez Elahi.
However, concerns were raised about Elahi’s security during the proceedings. The NAB lawyer stated that there were severe threats to Elahi’s life and alleged non-cooperation from the Punjab Government regarding security matters. In response, the lawyer representing the Punjab government presented a letter in court, explaining that Punjab Police was currently engaged in an operation in the Kutch area, using their bullet-proof armored vehicle.
Emphasizing the seriousness of the situation, the NAB prosecutor stressed that without adequate security measures, there would be significant risks. Justice Amjad Rafiq expressed his concern and stated that judges should not be put in a position of being accused individuals.
He gave clear instructions, stating that Parvez Elahi had been produced in the trial court on numerous occasions, and it was the government’s responsibility to ensure his presence. If the government failed to cooperate with NAB, the court instructed that Parvez Elahi should be brought to court within one hour, with the option of issuing an arrest warrant by the Director-General of NAB if necessary.
