Pervaiz Elahi, the President of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), was apprehended today (Thursday) outside his residence in Lahore.
The Anti-Corruption Establishment (ACE) officials, accompanied by a police team, arrested PTI President Pervaiz Elahi at his residence, Zahoor Palace, in Lahore.
Following his arrest, he was taken to an undisclosed location by the police and ACE teams. Pervaiz Elahi had been implicated in corruption cases in Mandi Bahauddin and Gujranwala.
Despite the cancellation of his bail, the senior politician had been evading court appearances. Since the revocation of his bail, ACE and police officials had conducted multiple raids on his residence.
The police stated that a case had been registered against Pervaiz Elahi under various sections, including the Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA). They further noted that he was wanted by the police after his bail was revoked, and they would take action against him following ACE’s intervention.
Following his arrest, Pervaiz Elahi was transferred to the ACE Lahore Region Faridkot House.
According to ACE officials, he was arrested in connection with a corruption case involving Rs700 million. Sources revealed that ACE had made preparations to declare Pervaiz Elahi a proclaimed offender.
Sources added that Pervaiz allegedly left his house in an attempt to avoid being declared a proclaimed offender.
Amir Mir, the Caretaker Information Minister of Punjab, stated that resistance was encountered during Pervaiz Elahi’s arrest today, as he refused to open the door of his bulletproof vehicle. He further mentioned that the ACE Punjab had been searching for the PTI president.
“Yes, he has been arrested from the Zahoor Elahi Road. He was arrested while trying to flee,” the minister told a private news channel. “Several raids were carried out at his residence. He was wanted. Today, out of the blue, a couple of bullet-proof cars came out [of the house]. He was in one of the cars.”
Mir said that law enforcers tried to stop and check the bullet-proof cars at a check-post. The minister said that the former chief minister resisted the arrest and was not opening door of his bullet-proof vehicle, therefore, the law enforcers had to break the side mirror of his vehicle.
“After resistance, there was an attempt to break the car’s window on the driver’s side. Pervez Elahi sb was inside the car,” he said.
The minister emphasised that, during initial attempts to apprehend Elahi, there were significant instances of mismanagement, thus the arrest was made after proper planning today.
“The series of arbitrary arrests began in January, and it was then that my father told me that even if they arrest me, we must stand by Imran Khan,” the former chief minister’s son, Moonis Elahi, tweeted shortly after the arrest. He said that his parents had expressed the same sentiments three days ago.
“It is being alleged that the police have unlawfully apprehended my father based on false charges. We are, by the grace of Allah, affiliated with PTI and will continue to remain so,” he further said.
Various corruption cases have been registered against the former Punjab chief minister, who is accused of receiving kickbacks for awarding several government development projects during his tenure.
Earlier, a special judge of an anti-corruption court in Lahore issued non-bailable arrest warrants for the former Punjab CM, ordering authorities to produce him by June 2.
Two arrest warrants have been issued against the PTI leader. The first one was issued on May 25 after the cancellation of bail while the second one on May 26.
An anti-corruption team earlier had also reached his residence for arrest. However, he could not be arrested.
The Punjab police and Elite Force had cordoned of the locality around Elahi’s residence, banning exit and entry points to the house.
