In Islamabad, an anti-terrorism court (ATC) declined a request for the physical remand of former Punjab chief minister Parvez Elahi and instead ordered his placement in jail on a 14-day judicial remand in the case related to the judicial complex riot. The ATC proceedings took place on Friday, following Judge Abual Hasnat Muhammad Zulqarnain’s return from his leave. After the expiration of his two-day physical remand, the police presented Elahi in court. At the beginning of the hearing, the Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) requested a 10-day extension for the physical remand of the Pakistani Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) president.
Parvez Elahi’s attorney, Sardar Abdul Razzaq, contended that the accusations against his client are politically motivated. He pointed out that Elahi was not a member of the PTI when the incident occurred on March 18, and the First Information Report (FIR) from that date was filed against PTI leaders and workers. The lawyer argued that Parvez Elahi is being singled out for political retaliation and highlighted that the ATC had previously acquitted the party president in the same case.
Razzaq further recounted instances where Elahi had been detained on what he called unfounded charges in the past. He mentioned that when there were no other legal grounds, the Deputy Commissioner (DC) of Lahore had issued an order for Elahi’s detention. Subsequently, the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) arrested him. Despite a clear directive from the Lahore High Court (LHC) stating that Elahi should not be arrested in any undisclosed case, the Islamabad police apprehended him. Razzaq also added that his client was presented before the Islamabad High Court (IHC), where the arrest order was suspended, yet Elahi was arrested again while leaving the court premises.
The defense counsel strongly emphasized that a physical remand should only be granted if there is concrete evidence against their client. They pointed out that Parvez Elahi was named in the case six months after the incident had occurred and urged the court to release him so that he could continue his service to Pakistan.
During the proceedings, Elahi’s lawyer also provided examples of PTI Vice Chairman Shah Mahmood Qureshi and other party leaders who had already been granted bail in the same case.
Additionally, PTI leader and Advocate Babar Awan were present in the courtroom, and Elahi was seen discussing his plea with Awan, appealing for his discharge in this case.
Advocate Awan, in his argument, read the First Information Report (FIR) aloud in court and questioned the prosecution about the evidence they had presented to establish Elahi as a terrorist. He firmly stated that the prosecution had no substantial evidence against his client and urged the court to order Parvez Elahi’s release.
During the hearing, Prosecutor Tahir Kazim countered by asserting that Elahi’s previous arrests in Punjab were not within their jurisdiction, and it was not appropriate to link those cases with the current one.
The prosecutor stated that Parvez Elahi was accused of financially facilitating the attack, with a digital transaction being involved.
Judge Zulqarnain inquired about the progress of the investigation during the past two days of remand. In response, the police reported that they had focused their investigation on the vehicles used.
Following this, the Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) denied the police’s request for a 10-day extension of Parvez Elahi’s physical remand and instead ordered him to be placed in jail on a 14-day judicial remand. The court directed that Elahi should be transferred to Adiala Jail and permitted to meet with his family.
At the conclusion of the hearing, the judge called Parvez Elahi to the podium, advised him to maintain faith in God, and scheduled a hearing for Monday to address the senior politician’s request.
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