Anti-terrorism court sends Elahi on two-day physical remand

An anti-terrorism court handed over former Punjab chief minister and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) President Chaudhry Pervez Elahi to the Islamabad Police for a two-day physical remand on Wednesday.

The ATC directed the police to produce Elahi before the court on September 8, 2023.

Earlier, Elahi had refused to leave with the police when the ATC in Islamabad reserved its decision on the police’s request for a 15-day physical remand.

Duty judge Shahrukh Arjumand heard the plea as the ATC judge was on leave.

The former CM is accused of sending rioters to Islamabad to vandalise a judicial complex besides providing vehicles and batons for the same, said the police, adding that physical remand was being sought to question Elahi about unidentified criminals and recover vehicles.

The defence counsel countered the police’s request and termed it “ridiculous”. The counsel informed the court that Elahi was acquitted in two cases in Gujranwala but arrested immediately after release. Elahi is being subjected to political victimization, he maintained.

The counsel further apprised the court that Elahi is unwell and is suffering from back problems.

Elahi stated before the court that he fears arrest by the accountability court once he leaves the ATC premises. “A certain SP sahab came to me last night and said I will be arrested in a 17-year-old NAB case.”

Before the decision was announced, Elahi refused to leave with the police insisting that he would sit in the courtroom till the judge issued directives.

When a police officer said “Sir, sahab has ordered we take you outside,” Elahi repeated that he would comply with court orders and asked which “sahab” had given these orders.

Contempt of court

Meanwhile, Elahi’s counsel approached the Islamabad High Court (IHC) against his arrest despite the Lahore High Court’s (LHC) orders for his release.

A contempt of court petition was filed against the Islamabad IG and deputy commissioner in this regard.

Elahi’s counsel Sardar Abdul Razzaq listed SSP operations, Shalimar Police Station SHO and others as respondents in the plea, which moved the court to initiate contempt of court proceedings against the relevant officers besides issuing directives for departmental action against them.

The PTI president was arrested hours after his release from NAB custody on September 1, 2023, after the LHC had explicitly restricted the authorities from arresting him earlier that same day.

The September 1 order was a reiteriation of similar orders issued by the high court on July 13, 2023.

Elahi has been arrested and detained repeatedly since May 9 riots.