Wasim Akram Plus is no more, while Elahi continues to lead
As Buzdar prepares to face re-arrest on more corruption allegations, Elahi has vowed his commitment to the PTI.
QUETTA & LAHORE:
On Friday, two former chief ministers of Punjab from the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) took divergent political paths, with one reiterating his unwavering loyalty to the party despite difficulties and the other announcing his retirement from politics.
In Quetta, Usman Buzdar announced his resignation from the PTI and active politics, citing “personal reasons,” while in Lahore, Pervaiz Elahi vowed to remain steadfast with the party and stated that he would not ‘hold any press conferences,’ a thinly veiled reference to leaders who announced their departure from PTI after internal party disputes.
Following a week-long police siege of his home on Zahoor Elahi Road in Gulberg, Elahi was arrested in Lahore on Thursday. A Lahore court later released him on bail in a corruption case, but Anti-Corruption Establishment (ACE) Gujranwala promptly re-arrested him outside the courthouse.
The district court that heard the corruption case in which the ex-chief minister of Punjab was detained by ACE agents released him on bail on Friday. An ACE probe and investigation led to the court finding that the charges against Elahi were not “well-founded” in the order.
It said the PTI leader should be released “immediately if not required in any other criminal case” and that more investigation was needed before any allegations could be made against the accused.
But “the investigation agency may subsequently arrest him if they find incriminating material in accordance with the law,” the court added.
Shortly after being released, Elahi was re-arrested by anti-corruption officials in a second case alleging that, as chief minister of Punjab, he caused a loss of Rs100 million to the national exchequer and received bribes.
The ACE has filed accusations against Elahi for a variety of offenses, including abuse of power and corruption that cost the government approximately Rs 1 billion.
Advocate Rana Intizar, representing Elahi, questioned who ordered the registration of the FIR against Elahi, noting that one Sohail Abbas was being depicted as the front man, despite the fact that a Gujrawala court had released Abbas in the same matter.
The ACE then filed a second case in Lahore, this time charging Muhammad Khan Bhatti, Sohail Abbas, and others with the same crimes.
The prosecutor stated that ACE needed to be physically remanded so that more evidence could be recovered and other suspects could be apprehended. He went on to say that illegitimate contracts for road patching and constructions were awarded, payments were made to fake businesses, projects were carried out without approval, and contracts were provided to their preferred persons without following appropriate process.
The petitioner’s attorney contended that the court had access to every relevant record and that no substantive evidence supporting the charges against Elahi had been presented.
Elahi, upon being called to the rostrum by the court, promptly responded that he was not involved in the case and hence had nothing to say. The ex-chief minister of Punjab continued, saying that he had been falsely accused of wrongdoing in a “forged case” designed to bring him shame.
Elahi asked the court to name Hamza Shehbaz Sharif as a defendant, but the judge refused, saying it was none of his “business.”
The decision on ACE’s plea for Elahi’s physical remand was postponed after Judicial Magistrate Ghulam Murtaza Virk heard arguments from both sides in great detail.
While the judge deliberated, the ACE attempted to transport Elahi to a secure vehicle. Elahi wanted to go outdoors, but the petitioner’s attorneys said they couldn’t let him until they heard the court’s ruling.
Officials from ACE argued that security concerns necessitated the judge allowing Elahi to be transferred to the van. However, the ACE’s request was denied by Magistrate Virk.
Elahi promises to stay in the PTI.
Elahi promised to stay with the PTI after his initial detention.
Elahi told reporters in a Lahore courtroom on Friday that interim Punjab Chief Minister Mohsin Naqvi was responsible for all “atrocities” and that he was at the “root” of the riots. Elahi insisted he was above the fray of politics and never filed charges against anyone.
The ex-chief minister of Punjab further said that those who did wrong will be punished severely. Elahi told PTI members they were in the “right” and should “not back down” from their positions.
In relation to a case involving the alleged corruption and misuse of authority during development projects, the senior PTI politician was brought before a Lahore court.
A. Buzdar, Usman
On May 9, after the PTI chairman’s arrest sparked riots, Buzdar held a press conference at the Quetta Press Club in which he vehemently condemned the violence. He said that a plot against the nation and its institutions was behind the events.
Buzdar told reporters, “No sane Pakistani can support such incidents.” Integrity and stability of the country will not be compromised, he said. Balochistan, he claimed, seemed like home away from home.
The former chief minister announced his resignation from the PTI and his decision to leave politics earlier today during a separate press conference in Lahore. Noting that “what happened on May 9 was not right,” he said.
Buzdar declared his support for the Pakistan Army, saying he has done so in the past and would do so in the future. He pleaded with the authorities to free “innocent people” detained after the events of May 9.
Following the events of May 9, Buzdar has joined a lengthy list of lawmakers who have resigned from PTI positions, the party, or politics entirely. The government responded to the violence by cracking down hard on the rioters.
From August 20, 2018, until April 30, 2022, Buzdar, at 54 years old, led Punjab as its chief minister. In the elections held in the Punjab in July of 2018, he was elected to the Assembly. His position as PTI provincial assembly leader ended in January, when the assembly itself was disbanded.
