Elahi sent on 14-day judicial remand in FJC riot case

ATC rejects CTD's request for 10-day extension in physical remand

ISLAMABAD:

An anti-terrorism court (ATC) in the federal capital on Friday rejected a request for former Punjab chief minister Parvez Elahi’s physical remand and sent him to jail on a 14-day judicial remand in the Federal Judicial Complex (FJC) riot case.

The ATC began its proceedings after Judge Abual Hasnat Muhammad Zulqarnain returned from his leave.
The police produced Elahi in court following the expiry of his two-day physical remand in the case.

At the outset of the hearing, the Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) sought an extension of 10 days in the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) central president's physical remand.

Elahi’s counsel, lawyer Sardar Abdul Razzaq, argued that the allegations against his client were “political”.

“He had not joined [the] PTI when the incident took place on March 18. An FIR dated March 18 was filed against [the] PTI leaders and workers. Parvez Elahi is being targeted for political revenge,” the lawyer stated, adding that the party president was also acquitted by the ATC in the same case.

“Yet he is now caught in another trial, instead of being released,” he added.

The PTI stalwart’s lawyer recounted the times Elahi had been arrested on “baseless” allegations in the past. “When there was no other path, the deputy commissioner Lahore had issued an order for detention.

Later, NAB (National Accountability Bureau) arrested him. The Lahore High Court ordered that Elahi should not be arrested in any secret case. Despite clear orders, the Islamabad police arrived and kidnapped him,” he stated.

Razzaq added that his client was then presented in the Islamabad High Court (IHC) where his arrest order was suspended and yet he was arrested once again while leaving the court premises.

He maintained that a physical remand should be granted if there is any evidence against his client. He argued that Elahi was named in the case six months after the incident, requesting the court to discharge him so that he could continue serving Pakistan.

During the hearing, Elahi’s counsel also cited examples of PTI Vice Chairman Shah Mahmood Qureshi and other party leaders who had already received bail in the same case.

Meanwhile, PTI leader and Advocate Babar Awan also reached the courtroom. Elahi was seen speaking to Awan, pleading to get him discharged in this case.

In his arguments, Advocate Awan read the FIR in court. He asked what evidence the prosecution had submitted to the court so far that proved Elahi was a terrorist.

“The prosecution does not have even a speck of evidence against my client,” he stated, requesting the court to order his client’s release.

During the hearing, Prosecutor Tahir Kazim argued that Elahi’s counsels spoke about his arrests in Punjab but that "is not in our jurisdiction, it is not right to connect these cases with ours".

He said that Elahi was accused of "facilitating the attack financially" and that a digital transaction had taken place.
Judge Zulqarnain inquired about the investigation conducted in the last two days of remand, to which, the police replied that they had investigated the vehicles.

Subsequently, the ATC rejected the police's request for a 10-day extension in Elahi's physical remand and sent him to jail on a 14-day judicial remand.

The court ordered that Elahi be transferred to Adiala Jail and allowed to meet his family members.

The judge, at the end of the hearing, called Elahi to the rostrum, asked him to have faith in God and issued a notice for a hearing on Monday on the senior politician's request.