Lahore High Court Orders Former Punjab CM to be Released Despite Arrest Warrants
The Lahore High Court (LHC) has ordered the release of former Punjab chief minister Chaudhry Pervez Elahi, despite the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) seeking more time to submit its reply explaining his arrest. The anti-graft watchdog was instructed by the court to produce Elahi before them at 2 pm today.
The decision was made by a single bench, comprising Justice Amjad Rafiq, during the hearing of a plea filed by the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) president challenging his detention. Elahi’s lawyer argued that his client had been arrested by NAB in violation of court orders that prohibited law enforcement agencies from taking action against him.
Expressing strong displeasure over the repeated arrests of political leaders, Justice Rafiq summoned the NAB director-general to provide details of all disclosed and undisclosed cases against Elahi.
When the proceedings resumed, NAB’s counsel requested more time to submit a detailed reply regarding Elahi’s arrest in an undisclosed inquiry, conducted without the court’s knowledge. Justice Rafiq pointed out that the arrest warrants had been issued despite the court’s previous orders.
In response, the judge ordered Elahi’s release until NAB submitted its comprehensive reply. He expressed his frustration over the recurring arrests of the former Punjab CM. The court allowed NAB to continue its investigations against Elahi while releasing him temporarily.
Consequently, the court directed the authorities to bring the senior politician before the court at 2 pm today.
Elahi’s petition asserts that his detention is a violation of LHC’s earlier order, which restrained law enforcement agencies and federal authorities from arresting him in undisclosed cases or pending inquiries.
An accountability court had previously remanded Elahi to NAB custody for one week, in connection with a case related to the alleged awarding of illegal contracts during his second term as Punjab CM. He was apprehended by NAB just minutes after being released from Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi after serving a 30-day detention period.
Chaudhry Pervez Elahi has faced multiple arrests since the May 9 riots.
In essence, the Lahore High Court has ordered the release of former Punjab CM Chaudhry Pervez Elahi, despite arrest warrants issued against him. The court expressed its dissatisfaction with the repeated arrests of political leaders and undisclosed cases emerging in disregard of court orders. NAB sought more time to explain Elahi’s arrest, prompting the court to release him until a detailed reply was submitted. Elahi’s detention has been challenged on the grounds that it violates previous court orders. The court’s decision allows NAB to continue its investigations while Elahi is released temporarily. The former Punjab CM has been arrested multiple times in recent months.
