Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) President Parvez Elahi was arrested again on Saturday just a few minutes after a Gujranwala court discharged him in two corruption cases.
This is the second time that the PTI leader has been re-arrested by the Punjab Anti-Corruption Establishment (ACE) after a court granted him relief.
The PTI leader has been arrested in a case registered against him for illegal recruitment he did in the Punjab Assembly when he was the speaker.
DG ACE said he was arrested in the third case, pertaining to fake recruitments in Punjab Assembly, lodged against him in Lahore.
Mr Elahi had been presented before court in Gujranwala today (Saturday) amid tight security. Police, in a statement, said security had been tightened around the court ahead of the appearance of Mr Elahi in order to avoid any untoward situation.
Two cases are registered against the PTI leader at anti-corruption establishment’s (AEC) Gujranwala directorate. He is accused of receiving Rs2 billion in bride in various development projects.
The anti-corruption watchdog rearrested PTI President Parvez Elahi from outside a Lahore court moments after he got discharged in the graft case on Friday.
ACE Director General Suhail Zafar Chattha said the department would move the court against the verdict announced by the Lahore court. "The verdict has been announced in contrast to the merit," he added.
The anti-corruption team had sought 14-day physical remand of the senior politician in order to interrogate him in the case. The judge announced the decision after hearing arguments from both sides.
Speaking to media outside the court, the former Punjab chief minister had said he was innocent and a “supporter of Pakistan Army”. In a message to the party workers, he asked them to stand firm and did not lose courage.
Mr Elahi was first arrested by a team of ACE, with the help of police, on Thursday from outside of his residence, Zahoor Elahi Palace, over graft charges.
