Uzair Ali is conscious of the extraordinary travails experienced by a seasoned politician
Parvez Elahi’s ordeal – Of all the political leaders associated with the previous stint of power of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI), it appears that former CM Punjab Parvez Elahi has been made to bear its excessively gross brunt. Throughout his stint in office he was the butt of criticism and ridicule and his actions were subsequently dubbed corruption-oriented. It looked that his last-minute turnaround to toe the line of the-then head honchos of establishment sat very badly with the new chain of command. It was obvious that there was considerable anger on his sticking to the abandoned PTI in some parts of the establishment and there began the unending period of rigours he has been subjected to. His decision to accept the presidency of PTI added fuel to fire and he then was perceived as a recalcitrant politician unwilling to see the changes being brought in the political position in Punjab. As is the wont Parvez Elahi is an ambitious consummate politician who believes that the pursuit of politics is to obtain power and take policy and administrative decisions. In the annals of politics pursuit of power is considered a legitimate political objective, and with the exception of Pakistan, it is practiced in all democratic dispensation. The issue is that Parvez Elahi’s actions are questioned and maligned as naked and selfish ambition and he is denied to pursue them by the segments of decision makers who consider hogging power as their right whereas it is not.
As was expected Parvez Elahi was to be taught a lesson for adhering to the political maneuvering he is entitled to and the result is that there is no let-up in his ordeal reducing him to a football-like existence that began on 1 June when he was arrested outside his residence by Anti Corruption Establishment (ACE) for allegedly taking kickbacks in development projects. The next day, he was discharged by a Lahore court but was rearrested by the ACE in a similar case registered in its Gujran-wala region. However, a Gujranwala court had then discharged him on 3 June in two corruption cases pertaining to the embezzlement of funds. Nevertheless, even after being discharged, the ACE then rearrested him for illegal recruitments in the Punjab Assembly. On 9 June a special anti-corruption court had given the ACE a last opportunity to present the record of the illegal appointments case. The same day, the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) came into action and initiated another inquiry against Elahi for his alleged involvement in embezzlement in development projects in Gujrat and Mandi Bahauddin. After a Sessions Court on 12 June had set aside a judicial magistrate’s decision of Elahi’s acquittal in the embezzlement case the next day, a judicial magistrate again sent him to judicial lockup after the LHC suspended the said order of the sessions court. On 20 June, Elahi finally secured relief from an anti-corruption court in Lahore but could not be released from jail as orders for his release were not delivered to the prison administration. The same day, the FIA booked him, his son Moonis Elahi and three others on charges of money laundering.
In a latest twist DC Lahore has issued a 30-day detention order for Parvez Elahi under Section 3 of the Maintenance of Public Order (MPO), a rather ridiculous action taken on the pretext that he may be allegedly disturbing the peace in connection with three cases. The order goes on to say that Lahore police had reported that Elahi was an active member and firebrand speaker of the PTI. Interestingly Elahi may be described as a competent and result-oriented behind-the scenes political operator but scores very low on public speaking and calling him to be a firebrand is preposterous a description. The reasons for his incarceration are that as an activist he can create situation of unrest and disturbance and that he had the potential to disrupt the public peace and tranquility and to provoke people illegally for taking the law into their hands. This long list of apprehensions are bordering on the ridiculous as Pervez Elahi is 77-years-old quite incapable of disturbing peace and order.
The official order is built around a spate of allegations pointing out receiving some credible information indicating that if individual in question is left free, he can potentially worsen the law and order situation along with his accomplices, which can end up in replicating the 9 May mayhem. The order also listed the first information reports filed against Elahi at various police stations in Lahore and termed him a criminal record holder. Citing the investigation in the cases, the detention order stated that it has been categorically established that Elahi perpetrated acts of resistance, arson and terrorist attack on law enforcement agencies through his accomplices. It further said that the members of the District Intelligence Committee endorsed the evidence/material provided by the police department and unanimously recommended that Elahi’s detention orders should be issued. The administration mentioned that PTI’s president’s presence at any public space will pose grave threat to the public safety and it is likely to cause breach of public peace and public order. The Weekender
Parvez Elahi’s ordeal
ByUzair Ali
He is in the finance sector
Dated
July 28, 2023
Uzair Ali is conscious of the extraordinary travails experienced by a seasoned politician
Parvez Elahi’s ordeal – Of all the political leaders associated with the previous stint of power of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI), it appears that former CM Punjab Parvez Elahi has been made to bear its excessively gross brunt. Throughout his stint in office he was the butt of criticism and ridicule and his actions were subsequently dubbed corruption-oriented. It looked that his last-minute turnaround to toe the line of the-then head honchos of establishment sat very badly with the new chain of command. It was obvious that there was considerable anger on his sticking to the abandoned PTI in some parts of the establishment and there began the unending period of rigours he has been subjected to. His decision to accept the presidency of PTI added fuel to fire and he then was perceived as a recalcitrant politician unwilling to see the changes being brought in the political position in Punjab. As is the wont Parvez Elahi is an ambitious consummate politician who believes that the pursuit of politics is to obtain power and take policy and administrative decisions. In the annals of politics pursuit of power is considered a legitimate political objective, and with the exception of Pakistan, it is practiced in all democratic dispensation. The issue is that Parvez Elahi’s actions are questioned and maligned as naked and selfish ambition and he is denied to pursue them by the segments of decision makers who consider hogging power as their right whereas it is not.
As was expected Parvez Elahi was to be taught a lesson for adhering to the political maneuvering he is entitled to and the result is that there is no let-up in his ordeal reducing him to a football-like existence that began on 1 June when he was arrested outside his residence by Anti Corruption Establishment (ACE) for allegedly taking kickbacks in development projects. The next day, he was discharged by a Lahore court but was rearrested by the ACE in a similar case registered in its Gujran-wala region. However, a Gujranwala court had then discharged him on 3 June in two corruption cases pertaining to the embezzlement of funds. Nevertheless, even after being discharged, the ACE then rearrested him for illegal recruitments in the Punjab Assembly. On 9 June a special anti-corruption court had given the ACE a last opportunity to present the record of the illegal appointments case. The same day, the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) came into action and initiated another inquiry against Elahi for his alleged involvement in embezzlement in development projects in Gujrat and Mandi Bahauddin. After a Sessions Court on 12 June had set aside a judicial magistrate’s decision of Elahi’s acquittal in the embezzlement case the next day, a judicial magistrate again sent him to judicial lockup after the LHC suspended the said order of the sessions court. On 20 June, Elahi finally secured relief from an anti-corruption court in Lahore but could not be released from jail as orders for his release were not delivered to the prison administration. The same day, the FIA booked him, his son Moonis Elahi and three others on charges of money laundering.
In a latest twist DC Lahore has issued a 30-day detention order for Parvez Elahi under Section 3 of the Maintenance of Public Order (MPO), a rather ridiculous action taken on the pretext that he may be allegedly disturbing the peace in connection with three cases. The order goes on to say that Lahore police had reported that Elahi was an active member and firebrand speaker of the PTI. Interestingly Elahi may be described as a competent and result-oriented behind-the scenes political operator but scores very low on public speaking and calling him to be a firebrand is preposterous a description. The reasons for his incarceration are that as an activist he can create situation of unrest and disturbance and that he had the potential to disrupt the public peace and tranquility and to provoke people illegally for taking the law into their hands. This long list of apprehensions are bordering on the ridiculous as Pervez Elahi is 77-years-old quite incapable of disturbing peace and order.
The official order is built around a spate of allegations pointing out receiving some credible information indicating that if individual in question is left free, he can potentially worsen the law and order situation along with his accomplices, which can end up in replicating the 9 May mayhem. The order also listed the first information reports filed against Elahi at various police stations in Lahore and termed him a criminal record holder. Citing the investigation in the cases, the detention order stated that it has been categorically established that Elahi perpetrated acts of resistance, arson and terrorist attack on law enforcement agencies through his accomplices. It further said that the members of the District Intelligence Committee endorsed the evidence/material provided by the police department and unanimously recommended that Elahi’s detention orders should be issued. The administration mentioned that PTI’s president’s presence at any public space will pose grave threat to the public safety and it is likely to cause breach of public peace and public order. The Weekender
Share
Get Newsletters