Police, anti-corruption in hot pursuit of Parvez Elahi

The Anti-Corruption Establishment (ACE) and police late Friday conducted a joint raid at the residence of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) President Pervaiz Elahi in Lahore to arrest the former Punjab CM in a corruption case.

According to 24NewsHD TV channel, police arrested 11 persons, stated to be staffers. Police faced resistance during the raid making it to barge into the residence. Anti-riot police personnel too joined the raid while Model Town SP Amara Shirazi and local police SHO were present on the occasion.

The legal team of Parvez showed up at the scene to argue that Parvez Elahi was granted pre-arrest/protective bail. 

As the raiding team led by the ACE regional director sought the court orders, the counsel presented a letterhead, stressing that the bail was granted by the court of Justice Tariq Saleem Sheikh till May 6 but certified bail orders were not gotten.

The police made their way into the residence and nailed the resisting persons who pelted the police with stones and threw water on them in a bid to fend off the arrest of Parvez. 

One of the raiding team members reportedly sustained injuries. The PTI president could not be found as according to the staffers he was not present at the residence. Ch Shafay Hussain too sustained injuries.

Accused of corruption of millions of rupees, Parvez Elahi is likely to be arrested in case number 6/23 of Anti-Corruption Gujranwala Circle.

PTI reaction 

As the story made headlines, PTI leaders condemned the raid and showed solidarity with Parvez Elahi. PTI Chairman Imran Khan condemned the action tweeting that the raid on Pervez Elahi's home with no respect for the women and family members.

“We are seeing the dismantling of democracy in Pakistan before our eyes. There is no respect for the Constitution, SC verdicts, or fundamental rights of the people - only the law of the jungle,” he added. 

Strongly condemn the illegal raid on Pervez Elahi's home with no respect to the women & family mbrs present. We are seeing the dismantling of democracy in Pak before our eyes. There is no respect for Constitution, SC verdicts, or fundamental rights of the ppl - only law of jungle

— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) April 28, 2023

Ruing the raid, Moonis Elahi tweeted: “Punjab police are at our residence to arrest my father right now in a case for which he got bail today. His bail hearing was covered by all media outlets.”

Punjab police is at our residence to arrest my father right now in a case for which he got bail today. His bail hearing was covered by all media outlets. PM @ImranKhanPTI is absolutely right : Rule of Law has ended in Pakistan.

— Moonis Elahi (@MoonisElahi) April 28, 2023

Flaying the raid, Fawad Ch said it shows that Ishaq Dar, Saad Rafiq and Azam Tarar have no value in their government Fawad is part of the PTI delegation engaged in poll parleys with the coalition government.

ایک طرف مذاکرات دوسری طرف گرفتاریاں؟ چوہدری پرویز الہی کے گھر چھاپہ سے ثابت ہوتا ہے کہ اسحق ڈار، سعد رفیق اور اعظم تارڑ کی اپنی حکومت میں کوئ حیثیت نہیں ، اس چھاپے کی شدید مذمت کرتے ہیں

— Ch Fawad Hussain (@fawadchaudhry) April 28, 2023

After the second round of the election talks earlier in the day, former foreign minister and PTI leader Shah Mehmood Qureshi said the arrests of his party members will destroy the dialogue process between the government and the opposition party on the matter of the election. The next round of govt-PTI talks is all set for Tuesday.