The Lahore High Court on Monday granted protective bail in the anti-corruption case filed against former Punjab Chief Minister Pervez Elahi and directed the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader to approach the concerned court.
Elahi reached the High Court along with several party workers and lawyers. The former chief minister – who managed to evade two arrest attempts at his residences in Lahore and Gujarat – appeared before a bench of Justice Asjad Javed Ghoral.
During the hearing, Elahi’s lawyer argued that cases are being registered against him on a daily basis.
The court replied: “If a fresh case is filed, file for protective bail again.”
Earlier today, the court rejected Elahi’s plea to stop the police from arresting him.
His petition was filed by his son Rasakh Elahi against the police action at his house last week.
During the hearing, Justice Sardar Muhammad Sarfaraz Dogar also issued notices to Inspector General Punjab Police and Director General Anti-Corruption Establishment.
The court adjourned the hearing of the case till May 8 while seeking the details of the cases registered against the former Chief Minister of Punjab.
Raid at home
Last night, police raided Elahi’s residence in Gujarat two days after they conducted a similar raid at his house in Lahore.
Kunjah House, the former chief minister’s residence in Gujarat, was briefly searched by police, with the Anti-Corruption Department – which was involved in the Lahore raid – denying any involvement.
In a raid on Friday night, anti-corruption and police officials using an armored vehicle broke down the main gate of the PTI president’s Gulberg residence and arrested 19 people, mostly his employees, from the house.
The former chief minister was also booked under terror charges for “attacking” the police during the late-night raid.
The federal government had distanced itself from the police raid and held the provincial authorities for the move.