In a dramatic turn of events, Islamabad police arrested former Punjab Chief Minister Chaudhry Parvez Elahi, defying orders from the Lahore High Court (LHC) prohibiting his arrest in connection with any First Information Report (FIR) or inquiry. This has caused a legal and political storm in both Rawalpindi and Lahore.

The arrest has prompted discussions about the authority of the law and the balance of power in Pakistan’s government.
In Lahore, the federal capital police detained Chaudhry Parvez Elahi, a prominent political figure and the central president of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), for violating Section-3 of the Maintenance of Public Order (MPO).
Irfan Nawaz Memon, the district magistrate of Islamabad, ordered the change.
His detention was especially noteworthy given that he had just been released from jail after a Lahore High Court decision had specifically instructed the Punjab police, the National Accountability Bureau (NAB), and any other relevant law enforcement authorities not to arrest him under any circumstances.
Elahi was stopped and arrested as he drove down Canal Road.
Elahi was at first expected to be held in Rawalpindi’s Adiala Jail. Later, though, the authorities changed their minds and transferred him to a high-security section of the Attock District Jail.
The Islamabad district magistrate issued the order under the 3 MPO, citing the fact that Elahi was a prominent leader of the PTI and that the city of Islamabad was home to numerous PTI sympathisers. He voiced concern that Elahi and other PTI members will undermine security in the capital city.
The senior superintendent of police (SSP) of the Special Branch and the Intelligence Bureau (IB) have recommended Elahi’s 15-day detention based on information gathered by the Divisional Intelligence Committee, he said. It stated that Elahi might file a legal challenge to the order if he so desired.
In the LHC proceedings, Justice Amjad Rafiq ordered NAB to release Elahi and issued a clear directive that he “shall not be arrested in terms mentioned therein including the NAB or any other authority/agency/office etc., nor shall be detained under any law relating to preventive detention.”
Throughout the trial, the presiding judge, Justice Rafiq, made it clear that NAB and the provincial administration had earned his disapproval. To the point of threatening to issue an arrest warrant for the NAB director general, he demanded that Elahi be brought before the court within the hour.
A letter from the province government was also read in court, explaining that the delay in producing Elahi was due to continuing security operations against terrorism and threats against politicians.
The report from the Counter-Terrorism Division (CTD) appears to have given validity to these fears. In response to these undermining efforts, Justice Rafiq warned against “ping-ponging with the court.”
After several postponements, Elahi was brought before the court, where he was released by NAB at Justice Rafiq’s direction. This ruling appeared to uphold the earlier instruction from the Lahore High Court.
The Appeal of Elahi
The LHC’s judgement clearly forbade Chaudhry Parvez Elahi’s arrest in unknown FIRs or pending probes, which was a central argument in the suit challenging his arrest by NAB.
Elahi argued that the NAB’s investigation that began on June 9, 2023, lacked openness. Despite instructions to give information regarding all criminal charges or pending inquiries against him, the NAB had neglected to reveal this inquiry before the court.
Elahi argued that the investigation was a “blind or unknown inquiry,” making it illegal for the respondents (ACE, FIA, NAB, CCPO, DIG of police operations, and others) to place him under arrest.
As a result, the court orders from July 13, 2023 would clearly contradict his arrest in conjunction with such an investigation. The petition also asked the court to rule that the fresh probe and subsequent call-up notice on August 25 constituted a contempt of court.
The petition also asked the court to order the respondents to refrain from arresting the petitioner in connection with any future criminal cases, inquiries, or investigations. It also aimed to ensure Elahi had the legal means to pursue criminal proceedings against him in the future.
Aftermath in Politics
The arrest of Chaudhry Parvez Elahi and the accompanying court fight are not isolated events.
They have caused a political uproar, with the PTI’s Core Committee demanding his release and criticising his incarceration.
The committee has also voiced support for Senator Aun Abbas Bappi, president of the PTI’s South Punjab chapter, and expressed serious worry about the ongoing trial of PTI Chairman Imran Khan.
The committee also looked at the Supreme Court hearing when Imran Khan argued against the National Accountability Bureau’s (NAB) legislative revisions.