'Will not hold any press conference': Elahi vows to remain with PTI

Following his arrest, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) President Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi vowed to remain with the party and stated that he would not 'hold any press conferences', in a thinly veiled reference to leaders who announced their departure from PTI after being released from prison. Talking to journalists at a Lahore courtroom on Friday, Elahi claimed that caretaker Punjab Chief Minister Mohsin Naqvi was the “root” of all riots and deemed him responsible for all “atrocities”. Elahi maintained that he did not lodge any political cases against anyone. The former Punjab chief minister added that wrongdoers would suffer accordingly. In a message to PTI workers, Elahi urged them to “not back down” and to remain steadfast as they were in the “right”. The senior PTI leader was presented in a Lahore court in connection with a case of alleged corruption and misuse of powers during development projects. During today's hearing, the Anti-Corruption Establishment (ACE) sought a 14-day physical remand of Elahi. The public prosecutor claimed Elahi should be investigated as he misused his powers and caused losses to the national treasury. Read Police bid to arrest Elahi fails to pan out Yesterday, the ACE with the help of Punjab Police arrested Elahi from near his Lahore residence, a spokesperson for the interim Punjab government said. Caretaker Information Minister Amir Mir confirmed Elahi's arrest, saying he was in his vehicle and "trying to flee" when he was arrested. "Yes, he has been arrested from Zahoor Elahi Road. He was arrested while trying to flee," the minister told a private news channel. "Several raids were carried out at his residence. He was wanted. Today, out of the blue, a couple of bullet-proof cars came out [of the house]. He was in one of the cars." Various corruption cases have been registered against the former Punjab chief minister, who is accused of receiving kickbacks for awarding several government development projects during his tenure.

from Pakistan News, Latest News Pakistan, Pakistan Headline | The Express Tribune https://ift.tt/YfeRjdS