ISLAMABAD: Pakistan police on Tuesday rearrested Pervaiz Elahi, president of former prime minister Imran Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party, hours after the Islamabad High Court (IHC) suspended his detention and ordered his release.
Elahi served as the chief minister of the Punjab province before dissolving the provincial legislature in January and was subsequently appointed by Khan as president his party.
Elahi was originally arrested on graft charges in Lahore on June 1. He managed to secure relief from a local court in the corruption case but was booked under the Maintenance of Public Order (MPO) which prevented his release.
The ex-CM challenged his arrest under the MPO in the Islamabad High Court and the court on Tuesday ordered his release. But hours later, the Islamabad police rearrested him in a case registered with the counterterrorism police.
“Pervaiz Elahi was arrested by [personnel of] the CTD (Counter-Terrorism Department) police station in case no. 3/23,” the Islamabad police wrote on X messaging platform, without specifying the allegations against Elahi.
Khan’s PTI party described Elahi’s fresh arrest as “another abduction.” “Pakistan has descended into a complete lawless country as not even courts order are being respected,” the party said.
Elahi’s arrest on June 1 came amid a countrywide crackdown on the PTI, following violent protests by Khan supporters over his brief arrest in a graft case on May 9 that saw mobs ransacking state installations. Khan was subsequently released on bail but was rearrested again last month and remains in jail after being sentenced in another case involving the illegal sale of state gifts.
Dozens of top members of Khan’s PTI have been arrested alongside hundreds of his supporters since the May 9 violence. Many have quit the party after being released, while other leaders remain on the run to avoid arrest.
