X CM Punjab granted interim bail in corruption cases till May 23

GUJRANWALA – An anti-corruption court on Wednesday approved interim bail till May 23 in two cases of former Punjab chief minister Chaudhry Parvez Elahi.

Two cases have been registered in Gujranwala Circle against the president of Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and former chief minister on the complaint of anti-corruption officials of Gujarat.

Elahi appeared before Special Judge Rana Muhammad Saleem who approved his bail.

It may be recalled that Elahi had obtained protective bail from the Lahore High Court in two cases — one filed by the Punjab Anti-Corruption Establishment (ACE) and the other linked to terrorism.

Elahi was granted bail in the corruption case until May 15 and in the terrorism case until May 4.

He had moved the LHC after the anti-corruption and police carried out a raid late on Friday night at his Lahore residence to arrest him.

A separate raid was carried out early Tuesday morning at Elahi’s residence in Gujrat, his son Moonis said on Twitter.

During the hearing on Elahi’s contempt of court petition against the raid at his residence despite protective bail, the public prosecutor said bail had not been granted in FIR number seven.

Anti-Corruption Additional DG Waqas Hasan appeared in court.

The police and anti-corruption took action to make the arrest in FIR number seven, the prosecutor further said, at which Justice Sheikh asked if the authorities had a search warrant to raid the house.

“We don’t have the search warrant yet,” the counsel replied.

The court directed the anti-corruption additional director and others to submit their replies again tomorrow, and also summoned them in person.

Speaking exclusively to SAMAA TV, Waqas Hasan claimed the raid at Elahi’s residence had not been carried out on the orders of the caretaker Punjab chief minister.

“He was proceeded against on violation of law,” he claimed.

Request for cases details sent to LHC CJ
The Lahore High Court has recommended the formation of a full bench on Parvez Elahi’s request to provide details of the cases filed against him.

Lahore High Court Justice Tariq Saleem Sheikh sent the request to the chief justice. The court recommended that the petition be referred to a larger bench as important points have been raised in it.

Elahi has sought details of the cases registered by the police, FIA and anti-corruption.

The court issued notices to the attorney general for Pakistan and Punjab advocate general for assistance, and sent the request to the chief justice.

Elahi’s ‘front man’ freed
Moreover, unidentified people got freed the alleged frontman of Chaudhry Parvez Elahi from the custody of the anti-corruption department.

According to the authorities, the suspect, Sohail Asghar, complained of chest pain late at night. During his transfer to the hospital, the suspects stopped the official vehicle midway and got Asghar freed at gunpoint.

A case was registered on the application of an official.

Sohail Asghar was in the custody of the anti-corruption police on a two-day physical remand and he was to be produced in court again from today.

However, the suspect created a commotion on the pretext of chest pain last night.

A case was registered on the request of a constable of the anti-corruption department with the Model Town police and an investigation is underway.