ISLAMABAD: The Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) Islamabad on Wednesday remanded President Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Ch. Parvez Elahi into police custody.
The Islamabad police presented Ch. Parvez Elahi before the anti-terrorism court (ATC) at the Federal Judicial Complex (FJC) in the newly-emerged terror case, dating back to March 18.
A day earlier, he was re-arrested hours after the Islamabad High Court (IHC) suspended his detention under Section 3 of the Maintenance of Public Order (MPO-3) ordinance and directed his release.
Elahi has now been arrested at least 11 times in various cases since the start of June and after a country-wide crackdown was launched against the PTI workers in the aftermath of the May 9 violence.
The posts on X by the Islamabad police announcing Elahi’s release and his subsequent re-arrest in another case have a time difference of just eight minutes. According to the Islamabad police, Elahi was detained in a case registered at the Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) police station.
Today, he was presented at the FJC before Duty Judge Shahrukh Arjumand as video footage showed him holding someone’s hand for support.
During the hearing, the police sought Elahi’s 14-day physical remand while his counsel, Advocate Abdur Razzaq opposed it and urged the court to discharge him from the case. The court then reserved its verdict on the subject.
The March 18 FIR
The FIR against Elahi was registered at the CTD police station on March 18 on the complaint of Ramna police Station House Officer. The case pertained to the clashes on that day between Islamabad Police and PTI workers outside the Islamabad Judicial Complex.
The case was lodged under Sections 148 (rioting armed with deadly weapon), 149 (unlawful assembly), 186 (obstructing public servant in discharge of public functions), 353 (assault or criminal force to deter public servant from discharge of his duty), 380 (theft in dwelling house, etc), 395 (punishment for dacoity), 427 (mischief causing damage amounting to Rs50), 435 (mischief by fire or explosive substance with intent to cause damage), 440 (mischief committed after preparation made for causing death or hurt) and 506 (punishment for criminal intimidation) of the Pakistan Penal Code and Section 7 (punishment for acts of terrorism) of the Anti-Terrorism Act.
