Daily Times

An anti-terrorism court (ATC) in Rawalpindi on Tuesday extended the judicial remand of President Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chaudhry Parvez Elahi till November 21 in the case related to the attack on the judicial complex.

After leaving the courtroom, Elahi spoke to reporters and mentioned that the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) would face the consequences of the previous government’s 16-month tenure in the upcoming elections. When asked about the three-time prime minister Nawaz Sharif’s return, he suggested that Nawaz should hold his brother, former PM Shehbaz Sharif, accountable for the inflation caused by what he described as the “failed policies of the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) government”.

Elahi urged Nawaz to address the issues created by his brother’s tenure, giving examples of the significant rise in prices and its impact on people’s lives, including suicides, job losses, and pension problems.

“He’s trying to be Nelson Mandela number two but if that’s right, then he should reprimand his brother,” he said. The PTI leader also pointed out that gas and electricity prices had increased significantly and mentioned incidents where teachers were mistreated while protesting for their rights.

Elahi further stated that everyone’s hopes for the upcoming elections are pinned on the judiciary. “Equal opportunities should be provided for all in the elections. If equal opportunities are not provided, there will be chaos,” he said and suggested that the courts can ensure justice if needed.

When asked how long he would continue supporting PTI, he stated that there is no shortage of support, and it will become evident in the future when elections are held.

During the proceedings, ATC decided to extend Elahi’s judicial remand in the judicial complex attack case until November 21. Judge Raja Jawad Abbas Hasan presided over the case on the occasion since Judge Abul Hasanat Zulqarnain was absent. Elahi was accompanied by his lawyer, Sardar Abdul Razak, and entered the court under tight security. At the start of the hearing, Judge Hasan implied that he was serving as a caretaker judge for the day and drew a comparison between caretakers in politics and the judiciary. He inquired whether a date needed to be set during the hearing and Advocate Razak confirmed this, leading to the extension of Elahi’s judicial remand until November 21. The court also decided to provide copies of the challan for charge-sheeting in the next hearing and allowed Elahi to communicate with his lawyers in the courtroom.

On October 23, a special court postponed a money-laundering case against Elahi and his son, former federal minister Moonis Elahi, due to Elahi’s absence from court for medical reasons. On October 5, the Supreme Court expressed its concern regarding the Lahore High Court’s tendency to grant “blanket bail orders,” likening it to granting a license to commit crimes. On October 3, the LHC resolved a prosecution’s appeal and instructed a judicial magistrate to review the decision to discharge the PTI president in a corruption case.

On September 26, the LHC’s Rawalpindi bench disposed of Elahi’s case, directing the Punjab home secretary to address the former Punjab chief minister’s grievances, who was seeking better facilities per his entitlement.