The anti-terrorism court of Islamabad approved a one-day transit remand of former Punjab chief minister Chaudhry Parvez Elahi in a case of vandalism at the Judicial Complex.

He was handed over to the Punjab Anti-Corruption Establishment.

The Punjab Anti-Corruption Establishment had requested for the remand of Parvez Elahi in the Punjab Assembly illegal recruitments case.

The defence lawyer told the court that Elahi has been accused of hiring his staff, asking if a chief minister cannot even recruit his chief secretary.

Lawyer Sardar Abdul Raziq said the case against Elahi was registered on Sunday, adding that a chief minister has the right to hire his own staff.

His client is being subjected to political victimization since January, adding that he gets arrested right after being discharged from court.

At the outset, ATC judge Abul Hasanat Zulqernain asked when Parvez Elahi would be relieved. The defence lawyer complained that his client was being taken from one city to another.

Parvez Elahi told the court that he has not been allowed to meet his family yet and asked for an appropriate order in this regard.

The lawyer asked which case it was, and was told by the investigation officer it was regarding vandalism at the Judicial Complex.

The judge sent Elahi to Adiala Jail till submission of surety bonds.

The defence lawyer remarked that all night the anti-corruption director general fabricated cases against Elahi.

Elahi told the court that a judge of the Lahore High Court asked if there were any cases against him and the prosecution had replied in the negative.

Judge Zulqrernain said Parvez Elahi’s health should be taken care of so that things get easy for everyone.

On the other hand, the Lahore High Court rejected an application against the decision of the district and sessions court to approve physical remand of Parvez Elahi.

The former chief minister had challenged the session court verdict in the high court.