Parvez Elahi, President of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party and former Chief Minister of Punjab, was arrested near his home in Lahore by officials from the anti-corruption department. The apprehension occurred near Zahoor Elahi’s residence in Lahore’s Gulberg region, a fact confirmed by Elahi’s spokesperson.
The arrest comes on the heels of an anti-corruption court denying Elahi’s request for temporary bail last week due to his absence, attributed to health issues. Elahi is implicated in a corruption scandal involving the misuse of Rs70 million in development funds allocated for the district of Gujrat.
Additionally, the court dismissed a medical certificate presented by Elahi citing chest pains, deeming it fabricated. Finally, the anti-corruption department spokesperson indicated that Elahi was taken into custody while attempting to flee, further adding that he’s a suspect in several corruption cases.
According to the spokesperson, the decision to arrest Elahi was taken following the court’s dismissal of his bail plea over presenting a falsified medical certificate.
Interim Information Minister of Punjab, Amir Mir, confirmed Elahi’s arrest, stating that the anti-corruption authorities wanted him about a corruption allegation. Mir alleged that Elahi was attempting to evade arrest when his vehicle was intercepted by police, leading to his arrest despite resistance.
During the arrest, Elahi was accompanied by Rasikh Elahi, his son and the sister of Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain, President of the Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q).
Elahi’s arrest forms part of a broader clampdown that has seen hundreds of PTI leaders and members apprehended following violent protests nationwide since May 9. This crackdown on PTI’s leadership, triggered by the riots of May 9, has resulted in a significant exodus of high-profile individuals from the erstwhile ruling party, including notable figures such as Shireen Mazari, Fawad Chaudhry, Aami Mehmood Kiani, and Ali Zaidi.”