Islamabad (Web Desk): Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) President and former Punjab chief minister Chaudhry Parvez Elahi was rearrested on Tuesday in the federal capital, hours after the Islamabad High Court (IHC) suspended his detention under 3-MPO (Maintenance of Public Order) and ordered his release.
In a post shared on social media platform X (formerly Twitter), Islamabad police wrote that Parvez Elahi was arrested by Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) in case no: 3/23.
Speaking to newsmen following the arrest, Elahi’s lawyer said: “I think all limits have been crossed and this is injustice with the country and its institutions and equivalent to making a mockery of the law and Constitution.”
Condemning the arrest, the PTI in a post on X wrote, "Absolutely shameful how courts orders keeps getting disrespected by the fascist regime. Parvez Elahi’s crime is standing for Pakistan, crime is not leaving PTI despite massive pressure.”
Earlier today, the IHC suspended Parvez Elahi's detention under 3-MPO and ordered the Islamabad police to release him.
Justice Tariq Mehmood Jahangiri of IHC took up Elahi’s plea for hearing.
During the hearing, Elahi's lawyer contended that his client had been in jail for the past three months and questioned how he could have caused harm to public order.
The lawyer also read out the PTI leader’s detention order out loud in court.
The lawyer claimed that his client has even refrained from making any public statements for the past four months, asserting that "there is no case filed against the PTI president in Islamabad".
Former Punjab CM's legal team also informed the court that he had been discharged from the anti-corruption case by the Lahore High Court (LHC).
"The court had declared the case filed by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) against him illegal," Elahi's lawyer added.
However, he informed the IHC that after release from the LHC, his client was rearrested by the Islamabad police.
Elahi's lawyer further reiterated that the PTI president has never organised any protests, rallies or demonstrations in the federal capital.
After hearing arguments from both parties, the IHC announced the reserved verdict suspending Elahi's detention under the MPO and ordered his release.
The court also issued a notice to the duty magistrate who ordered Elahi’s detention.
It said that the order was suspended and Elahi was ordered to be released “forthwith” if he was not required in any other case.
“The petitioner is directed to ensure that after being released from jail, he will not participate in any unlawful activity nor contribute to any activity harmful for public safety and tranquility in society,” the court order.
The order said that the Islamabad deputy commissioner and Elahi should appear in person at the next hearing. The hearing was subsequently adjourned till Tuesday (September 12).
On September 1, the PTI leader was arrested again hours after the LHC ordered his immediate release.
The court had ordered the additional registrar of the LHC, DG operations, and other security high-ups to ensure Elahi reaches his residence.
However, Islamabad police team assisted by Lahore police, intercepted en route and arrest the former Punjab CM near his home.
According to Islamabad police, the PTI president had been arrested under 3-MPO (Maintenance of Public Order) and was later shifted to Attock Jail.
After his re-arrest on Friday, the former Punjab CM had approached the Islamabad High Court (IHC) for release, while his wife, Qaisara Elahi, had filed two petitions in the LHC, seeking directions for relevant authorities to present her husband in court and contempt proceedings against Punjab police officials on grounds of “wilful disobedience”.
Separately, the LHC resumed the hearing of a habeas petition filed by the PTI president’s wife Qaisara Elahi seeking direction to DIG Investigations Imran Kishwar to present the former Punjab CM before the court and set him at liberty “if it is revealed that he had been kept in unlawful custody.