Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) President Parvez Elahi was released from Lahore’s Kot Lakhpat Jail on Tuesday after months of incarceration. This development comes after the Lahore High Court (LHC) approved his bail in the Punjab Assembly illegal recruitment case. LHC Justice Sultan Tanvir announced the reserved verdict on Elahi’s bail petition earlier today.
Upon his release, the PTI president returned to his residence in Lahore. Elahi was among several PTI leaders arrested following a crackdown on the opposition party in the aftermath of the May 9 incidents. These events refer to violent protests across the country following PTI founder Imran Khan’s arrest in a corruption case last year. The riots resulted in attacks on public and private properties, including military installations, prompting the army to declare May 9 as a “Black Chapter” in the country’s history.
Elahi was initially arrested outside his residence on June 1, 2023, in a corruption case. Since then, the former Punjab chief minister has been granted bail multiple times, only to be re-arrested. Earlier this month, the Islamabad High Court ordered the Interior Ministry to complete the procedure for placing Elahi under house arrest within 15 days. The court’s orders came after approving a petition seeking either his transfer to a hospital or declaring his residence a sub-jail.
In a statement following his release, Elahi expressed gratitude for his freedom. “God gave me the strength to remain steadfast. I thank the judges who supported the truth and got me released,” he said. Elahi also remarked on the hardships faced by the people of Gujarat, claiming PTI’s mandate was stolen in his home city. “We will not talk to [Chaudhry] Shujaat sahib’s children until our mandate is given back to us,” he stated, reaffirming his loyalty to PTI founder Imran Khan.
The illegal recruitment case
According to Punjab’s Anti-Corruption Establishment (ACE), Elahi was involved in making 12 illegal recruitments in the Punjab Assembly for grade 17 positions. These recruitments were allegedly made by altering records and through fake testing services. A spokesperson for the ACE stated that the investigation proved fake recruitments were made, and Secretary Rai Mumtaz Hussain was also arrested in connection with the case.
