Punjab Police on Saturday filed a terrorism case against the former chief minister Pervaiz Elahi and others, claiming that its officials were “attacked with stones, batons and petrol” during a raid on the PTI leader’s house in Lahore to arrest him in a corruption case the previous night.
Twelve persons, largely his workers, were taken into custody by the raiding team, which was made up of police and Anti-Corruption Establishment (ACE) personnel, after they used an armoured vehicle to force open the main gate of the former Punjab chief minister’s Gulberg residence. There were also some women who had been detained by female police personnel.
The police officials had thoroughly searched the house but was unable to find Elahi. They had also tried to force their entry into the adjoining residence of PML-Q President Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain, but they were resisted by Shujaat’s sons.
A first information report (FIR) was lodged today at at Lahore’s Ghalib Market Police Station invoking Section 7 of Anti-Terrorism Act 1997, and Section 324 (attempted murder), 353 (assault or criminal force to deter public servant from discharge of his duty), 109 (abetment), 147 (punishment for rioting), 148 (rioting, armed with deadly weapon), 149 (every member of unlawful assembly guilty of offence committed in prosecution of common object), 186 (obstructing public servant in discharge of public functions), 212 (harbouring offender), 427, 434 and 440 of the Pakistan Penal Code.
Meanwhile, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan has blasted the police action against party’s president Pervaiz Elahi, terming an illegal raid carried out by police on his home, with no regard for the presence of women and family members.
“Strongly condemn the illegal raid on Pervaiz Elahi’s home with no respect to the women and family members present,” PTI chief Imran Khan tweeted past midnight on Saturday.
Imran Khan asserted that the Constitution, Supreme Court’s verdicts, and fundamental rights of the people are being disrespected, and the law of the jungle is being imposed.
PTI leader Fawad Chaudhry condemned the raid on Elahi’s house, and said that the party will hold a meeting today to decide whether or not to continue the ongoing talks with the government regarding elections date.
“The attack on Pervaiz Elahi’s house, keeping Ali Amin Gandapur in wrongful confinement despite being granted bail and workers’ arrests are making the negotiation process meaningless,” he tweeted.
پرویز الہیٰ کے گھر پر حملہ ، علی امین گنڈا پور کو ضمانت کے باوجود جبس بےجاء میں رکھنا اور ورکرز کی گرفتاریاں مذاکراتی عمل کو بے معنی بنا رہی ہیں، اگر حکومتی مذاکراتی ٹیم یقین دہانی کے بعد ماحول بہتر رکھنے میں کوئ کردار ادا نہیں کر سکتی تو وہ بڑے فیصلے کیسے کرے گی؟ عمران خان کی…
— Ch Fawad Hussain (@fawadchaudhry) April 29, 2023
“If the government’s negotiation team cannot play any role in keeping the atmosphere calm even after assurances, then how will it make big decisions?” Fawad asked.
