PTI President Pervaiz Elahi arrested in Lahore

The Anti-Corruption Establishment (ACE) with the help of Punjab Police on Thursday arrested former Punjab chief minister and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) President Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi from near his Lahore residence, a spokesperson for the interim Punjab government said.

Caretaker Information Minister Amir Mir confirmed Elahi's arrest, saying he was in his vehicle and "trying to flee" when he was arrested.

"Yes, he has been arrested from the Zahoor Elahi Road. He was arrested while trying to flee," the minister told a private news channel. "Several raids were carried out at his residence. He was wanted. Today, out of the blue, a couple of bullet-proof cars came out [of the house]. He was in one of the cars."

Mir said that law enforcers tried to stop and check the bullet-proof cars at a check-post. The minister said that the former chief minister resisted the arrest and was not opening door of his bullet-proof vehicle, therefore, the law enforcers had to break the side mirror of his vehicle.

"After resistance, there was an attempt to break the car's window on the driver's side. Pervez Elahi sb was inside the car," he said.

The minister emphasised that, during initial attempts to apprehend Elahi, there were significant instances of mismanagement, thus the arrest was made after proper planning today.

“The series of arbitrary arrests began in January, and it was then that my father told me that even if they arrest me, we must stand by Imran Khan,” the former chief minister's son, Moonis Elahi, tweeted shortly after the arrest. He said that his parents had expressed the same sentiments three days ago.

“It is being alleged that the police have unlawfully apprehended my father based on false charges. We are, by the grace of Allah, affiliated with PTI and will continue to remain so,” he further said.

Various corruption cases have been registered against the former Punjab chief minister, who is accused of receiving kickbacks for awarding several government development projects during his tenure.

Earlier, a special judge of an anti-corruption court in Lahore issued non-bailable arrest warrants for the former Punjab CM, ordering authorities to produce him by June 2.

Two arrest warrants have been issued against the PTI leader. The first one was issued on May 25 after the cancellation of bail while the second one on May 26.

An anti-corruption team earlier had also reached his residence for arrest. However, he could not be arrested.

The Punjab police and Elite Force had cordoned of the locality around Elahi's residence, banning exit and entry points to the house.

Last month, another team led by ACE Additional Director Waqasul Hassan had conducted a raid at midnight that continued for hours in search of Elahi. Despite hectic efforts, the authorities failed to find him.

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