An anti-terrorism court (ATC) ordered the two-day physical remand of former Punjab chief minister and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) President Chaudhry Pervez Elahi, handing him over to the Islamabad Police on Wednesday. This development came as the duty judge Shahrukh Arjumand stepped in to hear the plea without the regular ATC judge. The police, who accused Elahi of orchestrating a riot in Islamabad and facilitating it with vehicles and weapons, had initially requested a 15-day physical remand. Despite this, Elahi resisted leaving the ATC premises until an official directive was issued. The ATC has now scheduled the next hearing for September 8, 2023, where the police are expected to further their case based on investigations conducted during the remand period.
During the hearing, Elahi’s defense highlighted his recent acquittal in two cases in Gujranwala and argued that the new accusations were a clear act of political victimization. Elahi, who reportedly suffers from back problems, also voiced concerns about potential apprehension by the accountability court in connection to a 17-year-old NAB case. Elahi remained firm as tensions escalated, demanding clarity on the orders and refusing to leave without an official court directive.
Legal Backlash and Contempt of Court
Amid these developments, Elahi’s legal team took decisive action against what they perceived as a blatant disregard for the Lahore High Court’s (LHC) earlier orders for Elahi’s release. A contempt court petition has been filed, naming several key officials, including the Islamabad IG and deputy commissioner, as respondents. Spearheaded by Elahi’s counsel, Sardar Abdul Razzaq, the petition urges the initiation of contempt of court proceedings against the involved officers and a call for departmental action against them.
This legal counterattack highlights a series of controversial decisions surrounding Elahi’s arrest. Despite explicit instructions from the LHC prohibiting Elahi’s arrest, he was taken into custody by the Islamabad Police hours after being released from NAB custody on September 1, 2023. It is noted that these actions directly violate the latest directives and mirror an infringement of similar orders dated July 13, 2023. The persistent arrests and detentions since the riots on May 9 stand as a testament to the ongoing legal battle in which Elahi finds himself trapped.
