ISLAMABAD: An Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) in Islamabad on Wednesday approved a two-day physical remand of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) President Chaudhry Parvez Elahi in a case pertaining to an attack on Judicial Complex Islamabad. He was taken into custody by the Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) police after the ATC announced the reserved verdict. A day earlier, it was reported liberty eluded Elahi as the former Punjab chief minister was taken into custody by CTD shortly after being released by the Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) police in compliance with the Islamabad High Court’s (IHC) order, according to well-placed sources.
The IHC had suspended the detention of Elahi under 3-MPO (Maintenance of Public Order) and ordered the Islamabad police to release him.
The seasoned politician was rearrested under 3-MPO by the Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) Police shortly after being released by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) on the LHC directives on September 1. The high court had declared Elahi’s detention at the hands of NAB “illegal” on August 1.
The sources privy to the matter said that the PTI president was rearrested by the personnel of the anti-terrorism division of the Islamabad police in a case relating to an attack on the Judicial Complex in the federal capital on March 18.
Following the attack, an FIR was registered at the CTD police station on the behalf of station police officer (SHO) of Ramna police station in this regard. The case was filed under 11 charges, including terrorism, the sources added.
A spokesperson of the Islamabad police said that the former provincial chief executive was taken into custody in a CTD case number 3/23. “He [Elahi] has been arrested in the category of unknown people.”
The PTI leader was released in compliance with the orders of the IHC, the spokesperson added.
LHC issues contempt notice to Islamabad chief commissioner
Earlier today, The Lahore High Court (LHC) issued a contempt of court notice to Islamabad’s chief commissioner expressing its displeasure for not complying with the high court’s orders of presenting Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI)President Chaudhry Pervez Elahi before the court.
During today’s hearing on the high court’s contempt, City Police Officer (CPO) Rawalpindi Syed Khalid Hamdani, Superintendent District Jail Attock Arif Shahzad, District Police Officer (DPO) Attock Sardar Ghayas Gul Khan, and other officials including Punjab Government’s Additional Advocate General Ghulam Sarwar Nihang were present in court. Advocate General Islamabad was also present in the LHC.
Expressing his displeasure for not presenting former Punjab chief minister, LHC Justice Mirza Viqas Rauf questioned how the court’s order be ignored.
Elahi’s lawyer implored that the court’s orders were not implemented, to which the court said that ignoring the court’s orders was a separate issue.
The LHC remarked that despite the court order, Islamabad police arrested the former Punjab chief minister. The court asked Islamabad’s advocate general what was his position on the court order as it was very clear but Elahi was arrested and transferred to Attock Jail.
“Pervaiz Elahi is being kept in Police Lines due to security reasons. It is difficult to bring him here,” the advocate general responded.
The LHC asked why there was no difficulty in taking him from the court. “Presenting Pervaiz Elahi should not be a matter of anyone’s ego,” the court added. “Islamabad IG were present in Supreme Court and Islamabad chief commissioner was present in the high court. Show cause notices were issued against the relevant officers for violating the court orders. Contempt of court proceedings against these officers will continue separately.”
The LHC remarked that the Islamabad chief commissioner violated this court’s order therefore a contempt of court notice was being issued.
“Response should be submitted within 7 days,” the high court directed
Furthermore, The LHC stopped Additional Advocate General Nihang from intervening and said that the case pertaining to contempt of court cases against officers was adjourned till next week. –Agencies
