Elahi evades arrest yet again

An Anti Corruption Establishment (ACE) team on Thursday, escorted by a heavy contingent of police, made another botched atttempt to arrest former Punjab chief minister Parvez Elahi in a graft case after his protective bail was cancelled by an anti-corruption court.

Last month, a team led by ACE Additional Director Waqas ul Hassan had conducted a raid at midnight that continued for hours in search of Elahi.

Despite hectic efforts, the authorities failed to find him.

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On Thursday, a heavy contingent of the police approached the residence of Elahi, the central president of the PTI.

They cordoned off the area and closed the thoroughfares, including Zahoor Elahi Road, leading towards the former chief minister’s residence for vehicular traffic.

A legal team of Elahi confronted the police before they could enter the residence.

The ACE and police presented the search warrant and other legal formalities before the legal team.

Afterwards, a team of police including senior and female officers along with ACE officials entered the house and searched it.

They kept on their looking for Elahi for a considerable time but eventually left the ex-chief minister’s residence empty-handed as they could not find him.

Various corruption cases have been registered against the former Punjab chief minister.

An anti-corruption court had issued him protective bail in a case of corruption of over Rs70 million in a development project through alleged misuse of authority and embezzlement of funds.

However, it was cancelled on Thursday after Elahi was unable to appear before the court.

His lawyer, Amjad Pervez, sought relief on medical grounds as well as expemtion from physical appearance before the court.

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He pleaded that Elahi was suffering from severe chest pain and other medical issues.

However, the prosecution pointed out before the court that the medical certificate submitted by the defence was fake.

The court instructed the lawyer to present the reports, stating that the court would make a decision right away. The court directed for the medical reports to be submitted immediately.

Judge Ali Raza later ordered the cancellation of Elahi’s pre-arrest bail.

It should be noted that during the previous hearing, the request for exemption from court attendance by Elahi was granted.

Afterwards, an ACE team and a heavy contingent of the police rushed to his residence to arrest him.

Before the teams left, the  ACE Punjab director general said that Elahi would be arrested today “at any cost” and action would be taken against him for submitting fake medical records.

Elahi was also booked in a criminal case registered at Ghalib Market police station for offering resistance and attack on a police team in connection with the raid at his residence last month.

A senior official shared with The Express Tribune that Elahi was missing from his residence since May 21.