Ex-CM claims his Gujrat residence raided by police

LHC issues notices to Punjab government, police over Elahi’s plea

LAHORE:

PML-Q leader Pervaiz Elahi and his son Moonis Elahi on Wednesday claimed that their family home in Gujrat was raided during the wee hours, alleging that the Punjab caretaker setup and federal government were behind the act.

The former chief minister said the police raided his house in Gujrat, the Zahoor Elahi Palace at 4:30am, claiming that they harassed the employees, including women, and then fled when a number of people gathered.

He said that the raid was the doing of the Punjab caretaker setup and the federal government.

“This two-month-old government and Mohsin Naqvi should work on holding free and transparent elections instead of indulging in these illegal activities,” he added.

It may be noted that the raid came days after PTI accused the caretaker Punjab government of 'political persecution' of its party.

However, the police are yet to confirm or deny the raid.

Earlier this month, the government had placed Elahi and his family on the Exit Control List (ECL) in connection with a fresh money laundering probe, opened against them by the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA).

‘Vengeful activities’

Later, the former chief minister also condemned the "illegal raid" in a tweet, slamming the government for engaging in "vengeful activities".

He claimed that "employees were harassed in the middle of the night", warning that the caretaker government of two months should refrain from these petty moves.

The PML-Q leader said that the party will move the court against "these illegal actions of the caretaker government" and added that he has "full faith in an independent judiciary".

Elahi urged Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif "respect the sanctity of the home" and warned him that "people would protest outside his own home".

Published in The Express Tribune, February 2^nd, 2023.