Accountability court cancels arrest warrant for Pervaiz Elahi

RAWALPINDI: Judge Sheikh Ijaz Ali of the Special Accountability Court of Rawalpindi has cancelled the arrest warrant of former Punjab Chief Minister Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi in a land case.

The court had issued this warrant due to Pervaiz Elahi’s non-appearance in the Takht Pari Forest Land Reference. After completing the hearing on two applications including exemption from attendance, the court reserved the verdict and adjourned the hearing till July 17.

During the hearing, Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi appeared in the court along with his lawyers Qazi Misbah. The other accused named in the reference and NAB lawyers including Sardar Muzaffar and Sardar Tahir were also present.

During the hearing, Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi’s lawyers filed a petition for cancellation of the warrant, which the court approved and cancelled the arrest warrant. During the hearing, Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi’s lawyer Qazi Misbah Advocate filed a petition to challenge the status of the reference, in which the legal status of the land reference has been challenged. The court adjourned the hearing till July 17. It should be recalled that NAB had accused Pervaiz Elahi and 25 others in a scandal involving valuable Forest Department land in Takht Padi.

While talking to the media in the court premises, Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi said that one should always hope for improvement, and he hoped the situation will improve soon. In response to the question about government’s proposed negotiations with the PTI, he advised reconciliation. Elahi went on to say it is always better to hold negotiations in politics, however the government had not responded to PTI’s letter for talks.