PTI president Elahi released after bail by LHC

LAHORE: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) President Parvez Elahi was on Tuesday released from Kot Lakhpat Jail following months-long incarceration, Geo News reported.

Earlier in the day, the Lahore High Court (LHC) granted bail to the former Punjab chief minister in the Punjab Assembly illegal recruitment case.

Justice Sultan Tanvir Ahmad announced the reserved verdict on the bail petition filed by the former chief minister.

The court had reserved the verdict upon completion of arguments by the parties, a day earlier.

Earlier, in his arguments, Elahi’s counsel Advocate Amir Saeed Rawn argued that his client did not have any link with the recruitment.

He submitted that his client did not receive any amount for the recruitment from any candidate, adding that the case was registered with a delay of two years.

He pleaded with the court to grant bail to his client.

However, Punjab Anti-Corruption Establishment (ACE) prosecutor opposed the bail petition and submitted that the case was registered in accordance with the law.

The Punjab ACE had instituted a case against the PTI leader and others on charges of recruiting 12 Grade-17 officers in the Punjab Assembly against merit.

The ACE accused Elahi of unlawful recruitment and kickbacks.

Allegedly, qualified candidates were denied positions while those who had not taken exams were appointed.

The ACE claimed that, as the then chief minister, Elahi misused his authority by influencing recruitment after receiving bribes.

In a statement, the former Deputy Prime Minister said he was thankful to Allah for his release and also thanked judges for providing him justice as well as those people who prayed for him. “I stand with Imran Khan and will side by him,” he added. He said that there could no dialogue with the children of Chaudhry Shujaat Hussein until the mandate of Gujrat’s people was returned to them. He was arrested in October 2023 in a case of illegal appointments.