Former Punjab chief minister and PTI President Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi, who had been arrested by the Islamabad Police from Lahore on Friday, was shifted to Attock Jail late at night. Soon after he was shifted to Islamabad, Deputy Commissioner (DC) Islamabad ordered his detention for a period of 15 days under 3MPO. Former prime minister and PTI Chairman Imran Khan is already in the Attock Jail. On arrival, a three-member team of doctors carried out medical examination of the former chief minister.Section 3 of MPO empowers the government to arrest and detain suspected persons. It states: “The government, if satisfied that with a view to preventing any person from acting in any manner prejudicial to public safety or the maintenance of public order, it is necessary to do, may, by an order in writing, direct the arrest and detention in such custody […] and [the] government, if satisfied that for the aforesaid reasons, it is necessary so to do, may extend from time to time the period of such detention, for a period not exceeding six months at a time.”

The district magistrate’s order said that law enforcement agencies had intimated to the judge at various times that Pervaiz Elahi was the PTI president and “remained involved in creating unrest and disturbance and has further potential to disrupt the public peace and tranquillity, if set free”. It further said that in the past as well, “he has provoked PTI supporters to take law into their own hands … The intelligence agencies have further reported that they have credible information that he would be a threat and can worsen the law and order situation along with his supporters if he has not detained.” The order added that it was also reported by agencies that multiple cases were registered against Pervaiz Elahi in different police stations for his involvement in disruption of peace, law and order.

The magistrate said it was highlighted in various reports from intelligence and law enforcement agencies that Ch Pervaiz Elahi has “planned actions against law enforcement, public infrastructure and property”, adding that the Intelligence Bureau and Islamabad’s assistant inspector general and senior superintendent of police had also recommended the PTI president’s detention under Section 3 of the MPO to prevent public disorder. The order added that a district intelligence committee meeting was convened on the above reports on Thursday and not only endorsed them but also recommended detention order for Pervaiz Elahi.

The magistrate said that on the basis of the material placed before him and the committee’s recommendation, he was convinced that Elahi should be detained for “ensuring public peace and tranquillity”. He ordered that Pervaiz Elahi be detained for 15 days “to avoid any likelihood of breach of peace/unlawful assembly in the district”, adding that the PTI leader had the right to appeal to the government against the decision. Earlier, the former chief minister’s son Moonis Elahi claimed his father was “abducted” from outside his Lahore residence.

Personnel of the Islamabad police had taken former Punjab chief minister into custody on Friday, just moments after the Lahore High Court (LHC), in its explicit orders, had barred the Punjab police, anti-corruption agencies, NAB (National Accountability Bureau), and other law enforcement agencies from arresting him in connection with any FIR or inquiry. The LHC had ordered the additional registrar for security, DIG Operations, and other senior police officials to ensure that Pervaiz Elahi returned safely to his home.

 
Credit: Independent News Pakistan (INP)