PTI President Parvez Elahi Arrested in Lahore Despite LHC Orders

Lahore – Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) President Chaudhry Parvez Elahi faced another chapter in his ongoing legal battle as he was arrested by Islamabad police in Lahore, despite explicit orders from the Lahore High Court (LHC) preventing the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) from taking him into custody.

The arrest unfolded on Canal Road in Lahore shortly after Chaudhry Parvez Elahi’s release from NAB custody, marking the latest twist in a series of legal proceedings that have kept him entangled in a legal quagmire.

The Lahore High Court had previously issued production orders for Elahi to attend a hearing on Friday. Following the hearing, Justice Amjad Rafiq issued release orders and instructed the Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of police to ensure Elahi’s safe return home.

However, in a surprising turn of events, the former chief minister found himself under arrest once again, this time at the hands of Islamabad police.

Chaudhry Parvez Elahi’s legal team has announced their intention to return to the court to address this re-arrest issue, with a petition scheduled for submission to the Lahore High Court.

This arrest comes after Elahi’s earlier contestation of his detention on August 29, in which he argued that his arrest violated prior Lahore High Court orders that restricted authorities from apprehending him in undisclosed FIRs or pending inquiries.

Chaudhry Parvez Elahi faces a multitude of legal charges and has experienced multiple arrests in recent months. Among the allegations against him is the receipt of over Rs 1 billion in kickbacks through intermediaries in more than 200 development projects in Gujrat district during his second term as chief minister of Punjab.

Despite periodic releases ordered by the courts, Elahi has been swiftly re-arrested each time, with his initial detention originating from a crackdown on PTI’s leadership following the May 9 riots. The legal saga surrounding his case continues to unfold, leaving many in anticipation of its eventual resolution.