Parvez Elahi re-arrested shortly after release

Parvez Elahi re-arrested shortly after release

Lahore (Web Desk): Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) president and former Punjab chief minister Parvez Elahi was re-arrested in another case registered against him in Gujranwal moments after his release by a Lahore court.

Earlier, a district court in Lahore on Friday discharged the former CM in a corruption case and ordered his immediate release a day after he was arrested.

The Anti-Corruption Establishment (ACE) earlier presented the former Punjab CM before a Lahore court.

Judicial Magistrate Ghulam Murtaza heard the PTI president's case, where the ACE requested the court for his 14-day physical remand.

During the hearing government counsel Ghulam Salahuddin asserted that the remand was required as further investigation was needed to be conducted from Elahi.

Elahi’s counsel Advocate Rana Intizar argued that none of the “fake and bogus documents” that his client had allegedly prepared were presented to the court.

In its order, the court termed the case against Parvez Elahi not “well-founded” as per the ACE investigation and inquiry.

"Therefore, the matter requires further probe and inquiry before levelling any allegation against the accused," the court said.

The court ordered the PTI leader’s “immediate release if not required in any other criminal case.
Parvez Elahi was arrested from outside his Zahoor Elahi residence in Lahore on Friday in a graft case for allegedly misusing his authority and corruption in development projects.

On May 26, a district court in Lahore had issued a non-bailable arrest warrant for Elahi in a case of embezzlement of development funds.

Earlier, a special judge of the anti-corruption court in Lahore issued non-bailable arrest warrants for the PTI leader ordering authorities to produce him by June 2.

Two arrest warrants have been issued for the PTI leader. The first one was issued on May 25 after the cancellation of bail while the second one on May 26.

An anti-corruption team earlier had also reached his residence for arrest. However, he could not be arrested.

In April, the ACE Gujranwala filed a case against Parvez Elahi citing a report based on sources, in which the former Punjab CM was accused of taking a Rs2 billion bribe for the contract of a development scheme.

Meanwhile, in another case was also registered against Elahi for allegedly taking a bribe of Rs120 million from an international organisation.