Parvez Elahi arrested again moments after acquitted in corruption case

LAHORE – PTI President Chaudhry Parvez Elahi was arrested again moments after an anti-corruption court acquitted him in a graft case related to development projects in Gujran.

Police arrested Elahi from the anti-corruption establishment’s headquarters in a case registered against him Gujranwala.

Earlier in the day, the former chief minister was brought to court amid tight security where ACE officials sought his 14-day physical remand in the corruption case.

During the hearing, Elahi’s lawyer Rana Intezar said record of all development projects initiated by his client was available.

After hearing the arguments, the judge reserved his verdict and allowed the ACE officials to take him back to the headquarters.

Announcing his verdict, the anti-corruption court has acquitted the PTI president in the corruption case.

On Thursday, the arrest was made in connection with a corruption case involving misappropriation of Rs70 million in development funds allocated for the Gujrat district, for which Elahi’s bail request was denied.

It is noteworthy that two cases have been lodged in Gujranwala against the former Punjab chief minister, accusing him of accepting kickbacks in awarding contracts. Additionally, another case has been registered against him in Lahore. 

In light of these charges, a special judge of the anti-corruption court in Lahore issued non-bailable arrest warrants for Elahi, instructing authorities to produce him by June 2. The PTI leader now faces two arrest warrants, the first of which was issued on May 25 following the revocation of his bail, and the second on May 26.

Previously, an anti-corruption team had attempted to arrest Elahi at his residence, but their efforts were unsuccessful. The area around his house was cordoned off by the Punjab Police and Elite Force, restricting entry and exit points.

In April, the ACE Gujranwala filed a case against the PTI president based on a report that accused him of accepting a bribe of Rs2 billion for a development scheme contract. Additionally, Elahi is implicated in another case (FIR No 6/23), which alleges that he received a bribe of Rs120 million from a Turkish company, an international organization.

The judge presiding over the anti-corruption court declared Elahi’s medical certificate, which claimed chest pain as a reason for his inability to attend court, as fraudulent.