PTI condemns raid on Pervaiz Elahi’s house, questions govt’s involvement

GUJRAT: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Senior Vice Chairman Shah Mehmood Qureshi has condemned the ‘illegal’ raid on party president and former Punjab chief minister (CM) Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi’s house, questioning the federal government’s involvement in it amid talks on election date, ARY News reported on Saturday.

The former foreign minister visited Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi’s residence and expressed solidarity with the former Punjab CM and his family.

Talking to journalists outside Elahi’s residence, Shah Mehmood Qureshi condemned the ‘illegal police raid’ and said that the law enforces entered the latter’s house without a search warrant.

“Despite possessing bail in relevant cases, Pervaiz Elahi’s house was raided,” he said, expressing shock over the government’s move. Qureshi noted that such personalities, who are part of Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM), were also present in the house.

“The entire PTI, including party chairman Imran Khan, stand by its President Pervaiz Elahi and his family,” he said, hoping that this’ difficult time’ will pass soon.

The PTI leader noted that such move was also witnessed at Imran Khan’s residence in Lahore’s Zaman Park, adding that the law enforcers have violated the sanctity of veil and walls.

He also pointed out the ‘oppression’ on PTI workers and leaders including Ali Amin Gandapur, urging them to ‘wait for the right time’. “We have always respected the law and despite of this fascism, Elahi has moved court,” he added. He also hoped that the judiciary will serve justice to PTI leaders and workers.

Qureshi noted that he received a telephone call from Finance Minister Ishaq Dar on his way to Pervaiz Elahi’s house. “I had told Dar that I will first meet the PTI president’s family and then come to a decision,” he said, adding that PTI had sit for negotiations with ‘good intentions’.

A day earlier, Anti-Corruption Establishment (ACE) team along with a heavy contingent of Punjab Police raided former Punjab Chief Minister and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) President Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi’s house, located at Zahoor Elahi Road in Lahore.

At least 25 individuals, including servants working in the household of the former Punjab chief minister, were arrested by the police during the raid.

The eight-hour-long police action came to a halt after the Director General of Punjab’s Anti-Corruption Establishment (ACE), Sohail Zafar Chattha, left the scene along with the police contingent.

The ACE team along with police contingents led by the superintendent police (SP) Model Town raided Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi’s house in Lahore. A large number of senior lawyers were present at the PTI president’s house at the time of the raid.

The police entered the house after jumping from the wall and an armoured personnel carrier (APC) of police broke the main gate of the residence.