Police and anti-corruption squad conducted a joint raid at the residence of PTI leader Parvez Elahi to arrest him in connection with a corruption case, Friday night.
Police arrested 11 activists and staffers of the ex-CM as they resisted the raid. The arrested claimed Parvez Elahi is not present.
However, the counsel for Parvez Elahi claimed that the court granted protective/pre-arrest bail.
As the raiding team sought the written court orders, the counsel showed letterhead and said they could not get a certified copy of the court order.
SP Model Town Amara Shirazi and local police reached the spot. The anti-riot squad too joined the op as Parvez Elahi’s team is showing resistance.
Ex-CM Parvez is accused of corruption of millions of rupees.
Police broke into the house but could not find the former chief minister so far.
Police surrounded Parvez Elahi’s residence and the roads leading to the residence were blocked. Traffic has been diverted.
Parvez Elahi is likely to be arrested in case number 6/23 of Anti-Corruption Gujranwala Circle.
Justice Tariq Saleem Sheikh has granted interim bail till May 6, Advocate Aamir Saeed, said adding that the raiding party is defying court orders.As the story made headlines, PTI leaders started issuing a statement to condemn the action and show solidarity with Parvez Eali,
Earlier in the day ex-foreign minister and PTI leader Shah Mehmood Qureshi said the arrests of his party members will destroy the dialogue process between the government and the opposition party on the matter of election.
Seven individuals, reportedly servants working in the household of the former Punjab chief minister, have been arrested by the police.
The raid comes hours after the PTI and Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM)-led government held talks on election dates, with the former calling for stopping of their workers’ arrests, warning that the talks might derail if the law enforcers’ actions do not come to a halt.
Analysts said that the pressure tactics of the authorities are giving a boost to PTI Chairman Imran Khan’s popularity, noting that none of the members from the government’s side has faced such late-night raids so far.
A heavy contingent of police, along with the official of anti-corruption officials, raided Elahi’s house. The police cordoned off the Chaudhary Zahoor Elahi Road outside the residence during the operation.
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