In a contempt case for arresting Chaudhry Parvez Elahi despite Lahore High Court orders against it, the court has summoned the Punjab police chief (IGP), the Lahore CCPO and other officers at 2pm along with their replies.
Justice Amjad Rafique was hearing a petition of Parvez Elahi’s wife Qaisara against the arrest of her husband despite high court orders against it in any other case and not transferring him home safely.
The petition pleaded that Parvez Elahi was abducted while he was on his way home from the court. It has sought orders for his recovery.
Meanwhile, Parvez Elahi has suddenly fallen ill in Attock Jail where he was being kept after being arrested under MPO despite the Lahore High Court ordering his release.
According to jail sources, Elahi is being shifted to the PIMS hospital in Islamabad. A police convoy is en route to Islamabad from Attock.
During the hearing of the case, the government lawyer told the court that the DIGs of operations and investigation had proceeded on an official visit to Balochistan. The legal DSPs submitted responses on behalf of both the officers.
The court remarked that if both the officers did not show up today, they will be issued show-cause notices.
Qaisara Elahi’s lawyer Tahir Nasrullah told the court that he was sitting behind Parvez Elahi in the car when he was ‘abducted’. The police tried to arrest Elahi once on The Mall road.
He further said that 300 masked men stopped the car on Canal Road, adding that 40-50 cars accompanied them, while three cars intercepted them from the front.
As soon as the car stopped, the DIG operations emerged from it.
On the other hand, through an intra-court appeal, NAB has challenged the single bench decision of the Lahore High Court setting Chaudhry Parvez Elahi free and not arresting him in any other case.
Elahi and several other people have been made parties in the appeal. The NAB appeal maintains that the single bench pronounced its verdict to release the former chief minister without properly hearing the bureau.
It said Elahi’s arrest was lawful and he was on remand. The single bench decided to release Elahi without reviewing the facts correctly.
The appeal maintained that the decision not to arrest him in any other case was also incorrect as per the law. It sought the court declare the single bench decision unlawful.
