In a case involving suspected kickbacks in construction projects, an accountability court in Lahore on Tuesday prolonged Chaudhry Parvez Elahi’s physical detention till September 2. Elahi is the president of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and the former chief minister of Punjab.
Lahore court approves Elahi’s physical remand: Before the expiration of his physical remand, representatives of the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) brought Elahi before Accountability Court Judge Zubair Shahzad Kiyani.
In the Lahore High Court, Elahi had also contested the legality of his arrest by the NAB. The plea has support from the NAB, FIA, Punjab IGP, and others.
The petition claims that without giving him a call-up notice or an opportunity to give a statement, the accountability watchdog improperly elevated the inquiry to an investigation.
It asserted that the NAB improperly issued and executed an arrest warrant.
The petition asks the Lahore High Court to deem the NAB’s arrest as invalid.
The court should issue an order to halt the arrest of Parvez Elahi in unreported instances.
“Lawyer Amjad Pervaiz stated during the proceedings of a NAB case involving suspected corruption in development schemes against the former CM that, if Moonis Elahi had done something wrong, his father could not be held accountable for it.”
Moonis Elahi is a self-sufficient and independent worker. He informed the accountability court that higher court rulings concurred.
“The defense attorney is arguing that the prosecution has leveled substantial allegations and is insisting that they should present evidence to substantiate their claims.”
On the request for Elahi’s physical remand, the accountability court in Lahore has reserved judgement. The NAB requested physical custody of the PTI president.
However, Elahi’s attorney requested that the court declare the arrest of his client as unlawful.