PTI President Pervaiz Elahi arrested in Lahore

After repeated failures, police on Thursday arrested PTI president Chaudhry Parvez Elahi outside his residence, Zahoor Elahi Palace, over graft charges, confirmed Punjab interim information minister Amir Mir.

Mr Mir said former Punjab CM had been arrested for receiving kickbacks in development projects, adding that he would be shifted to the anti-corruption headquarters shortly. “The area around his house had been cordoned off for last couple of days,” he added.

At first, he resisted but when the police tried to break his car’s driving side window, he came out of his car, he said. “Talks of human rights violations should be toned down because he is accused of corruption,” he added.

“He will be treated in jails as other accused are treated,” he said. 

“Police would proceed against him in four cases including corruption in development projects, and resisting arrest at his Lahore residence earlier,” reports said.

Reports said Mr Elahi had been under the police’s watch for several days and he was detained outside his residence in Gulberg. “As the police got the information on his whereabouts, they took robust action and detained him,” reports added.

“There were suspicions of his arrest as he had been scheduled to meet some political leaders today”. reports said.

Police had been tracking his location for the last couple of days, reports said. “There is no information on where he will be shifted,” reports added.

“However, police personnel have been deployed at Lahore’s anti-corruption directorate, but later he could be transported to Gujranwala for further proceedings,” reports added. 

Earlier, police had failed to arrest Mr Elahi but kept siege around the PTI leader’s house on Zahoor Elahi Road till last reports came in on Friday morning.