Chaudhry Parvez Elahi, President of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and former Punjab Chief Minister was released on Tuesday without a press conference. The Lahore High Court (LHC) ordered his release, surprising many and fueling speculation.
Despite a previous LHC order preventing his re-arrest, Islamabad police detained him shortly after his release. However, Justice Sultan Tanvir Ahmed granted him post-arrest bail related to alleged illegal appointments in the Punjab Assembly. PTI supporters praised Elahi’s resilience, while skeptics questioned if his release was due to undisclosed commitments.
Earlier, Justice Ahmed accepted Elahi’s bail petition, citing the need for further investigation. Elahi’s bail was granted upon furnishing a bond of Rs500,000. The case involves charges from June 3, 2023, under various sections of the Pakistan Penal Code and the Prevention of Corruption Act 1947, stemming from alleged illegal recruitments in the Punjab Assembly.
Elahi’s legal journey included conditional bail grants and dismissals. He was finally released from Kot Lakhpat Jail on Tuesday after Justice Ahmed announced his ruling. The FIR was lodged at the Anti-Corruption Establishment (ACE) police station, Lahore, after an inquiry into alleged illegal recruitments.
In the LHC, Elahi’s counsel, Amir Saeed Rawn, argued that the alleged recovery of Rs 4,100,000 lacked proper documentation in the FIR. He stated that the prosecution’s evidence created reasonable doubt. He argued that the forgery allegation was implausible and that the case was registered two years after the alleged crime, indicating political motives.
Opposing the petition, a law officer argued that evidence connected Elahi to the illegal appointments, stressing the gravity of the offense. Following his release, Elahi returned home and posted a picture with his family on social media, reaffirming his support for PTI founder Imran Khan.
Elahi expressed gratitude to Allah, the judges, and his supporters. He criticized the oppression in his home district of Gujrat and stated there would be no talks with Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain’s children until their stolen mandate was returned. He also accused Mohsin Naqvi of playing a crucial role in his arrest and pledged to remain with Imran Khan.
Elahi was initially arrested outside his Lahore residence on June 2 last year in connection with a corruption case and was rearrested multiple times over the past year, despite court relief.
