GUJRANWALA-UNS: An anti-corruption court on Saturday reserved the verdict on physical remand of PTI President Parvez Elahi in two corruption cases.
Duty judicial magistrate Muhammad Afzal would pronounce the verdict after an hour, sources said. “The court reserved the verdict after hearing arguments from both sides,” sources added.
Mr Elahi had been presented before court in Gujranwala today (Saturday) in two corruption cases. 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 ACE has pleaded the court to grant the physical remand of Mr Elahi to interrogate him in the cases.
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.
The arrest came as an anti-corruption court of Lahore had, earlier, rejected Mr Elahi’s bail petition in a case of alleged corruption in development projects.
