Back in custody: Parvez Elahi's arrest-release drama far from over

• ACE officials say Parvez Elahi arrested in illegal recruitment case this time. 
• ACE says Elahi made 12 illegal recruitments in Punjab Assembly.
• Arrest came after a court discharged the PTI leader in two graft cases.

GUJRANWALA: 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.

Minutes before the arrest, a local court had discharged the PTI president in the two corruption cases registered against him in Gujranwala’s anti-corruption police station for allegedly taking kickbacks in the development funds allocated for the construction of roads in Gujrat.

This time, the PTI leader has been re-arrested in a case registered against him for the alleged illegal recruitment in the Punjab Assembly when he was the speaker.

A day earlier, the PTI leader was arrested in a similar fashion outside a Lahore court. 

The court had ordered release of the PTI leader in connection with a case involving Rs70 million corruption in development funds allocated for the Gujrat district.

But, minutes later he was re-arrested in a corruption case registered against him in Gujranwala by the Punjab ACE.

After the arrest, the PTI leader was brought to ACE's regional office in Gujranwala this morning and presented before Judicial Magistrate Muhammad Afzal. 

'Baseless case'

Moonis Elahi, who is the son of Parvez Elahi, said that his father was discharged in all three cases registered against him in Lahore and Gujranwala.

"Now they have arrested him in a baseless case of recruitment in the Punjab Assembly," said Moonis.

He said that the cases are being registered for victimisation.

Today's hearing

The investigation team, during the hearing, told the court that two cases were registered against Elahi in Gujranwala's anti-corruption police station.

"Parvez Elahi has been arrested in two cases," said the investigation team.

The team had sought Elahi's 14-day physical remand for the investigation of cases and recovery of ill-gotten money.

The court had then reserved its verdict on the plea. 

While announcing the verdict, the court issued the release orders of the PTI leader over "lack of evidence" and rejected the plea for the physical remand.

Elahi deprived of medicines

Speaking to his lawyer, the former Punjab CM said that he was kept in a police station and was not given his medicines.

"I took my medicines in the morning with difficulty," he said, adding that he was not even allowed to use the bathroom.

Speaking to media persons after the hearing, Elahi said that whatever the court decides will happen.

"It is a test for the judiciary," he added.

The illegal recruitment case

According to the details provided by an ACE spokesperson, Elahi made 12 illegal recruitments in Punjab Assembly for grade 17 positions.

The candidates were recruited in the provincial assembly by altering the records. "The illegal recruitments were made through fake testing services," said the spokesperson.

He said that the investigation by the ACE proved that fake recruitments were made in Punjab Assembly, adding that the anti-corruption has also arrested Secretary Rai Mumtaz Hussain in connection with this case on the basis of evidence.

"Rai Mumtaz was involved in fake recruiting process with Parvez Elahi," he said.