Former Punjab chief minister Parvez Elahi has claimed that his residence in Gujrat was raided by police in the early hours of Wednesday morning.

“Police raided our house in Gujrat, the Zahoor Elahi Palace, at 4:30am today. They harassed our employees, including women, and then fled when a number of people gathered,” he said on Geo News programme ‘Geo Pakistan’.

Elahi claimed that the raid “is the doing of the Punjab caretaker setup and the federal government”.

“This two-month-old government and Mohsin Naqvi should work on holding free and transparent elections instead of indulging in these illegal activities,” he added.

Later in a tweet, Elahi said that he would be approaching the courts against the raid. “We will go to court against these illegal actions of the caretaker government and have full faith in an independent judiciary.”

He also said that while terrorism was on a rise in the country, the government was using the police and administration for “revenge”.

Separately, ex-federal minister Moonis Elahi said that the police raided their residence without any warrant.

“Twenty-five police vehicles are understandable, but what were two black Vigos doing with them? Were you looking for Indian spies,” he tweeted.

The police is yet to confirm or deny the raid.

Earlier this month, the PML-N-led coalition government had placed Elahi and his family on the Exit Control List (ECL) in connection with a fresh money laundering probe, opened against them by the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA).

LHC seeks replies from Punjab govt, police on Elahi’s plea

Later in the day, the Lahore High Court sought replies from the Punjab caretaker government, police, FIA and the anti-corruption department on a petition filed by Elahi seeking protective bail to avoid possible arrest and revocation of cases filed against him and his family members.

Justice Shehram Sarwar heard the case in his chamber and issued a notice to the federal government in this regard for February 3.

“IG Punjab should submit all relevant information to the court like a responsible officer,” the court said.

It added that if cases have been registered against the former chief minister, their details should be presented in the court.

Earlier, Elahi filed a petition in the LHC through Advocate Amir Saeed Rawn. The plea — naming Elahi and four others as petitioners — urged the court to approve bail in cases that had not yet come to the light.

The Federation of Pakistan, Punjab caretaker chief minister, Federal Investigation Agency, capital city police officer, deputy inspector general of police (Lahore), and regional police officer (Gujranwala) were named as respondents in the petition.

The plea urged the court to issue restraining orders to law enforcement agencies from “harassing” petitioners.

Elahi contended in the petition that he and his family were being subjected to “political revenge” due to his criticism of the caretaker chief minister.

He also sought court directions for the revelation of details of cases “secretly” filed against him and his family members by different organisations.

Elahi alleged that police were “harassing and blackmailing” him and other co-petitioners.

“Elahi’s brother, son, and nephews are being threatened by calls from unknown numbers,” the plea added.