RAWALPINDI / LAHORE: Chaudhry Pervez Elahi, the former chief minister of Punjab and president of the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI), was shifted from Lahore’s Camp Jail to Adiala Central Jail on Wednesday morning amid tight security, even as his wife approached the Lahore High Court against her husband detention under the MPO and his transfer.

The district administration of Lahore had issued detention orders of Mr Elahi for 30 days on July 16 under Section 3 of the Maintenance of Public Order on the recommendation of Lahore police.

The former Punjab chief minister was brought to Adiala Central Jail, Rawalpindi, from Lahore District Jail by Lahore police. On reaching the jail, Mr Elahi was handed over to the Adiala jail administration by the Lahore police.

Later, the medical officer of the Adiala jail conducted the medical check-up of Mr Elahi. Later, he was shifted to a high-security barrack.

Informed sources said the PTI president was transferred from Lahore to Adiala Central Jail on administrative grounds.

In a related development, the wife of Mr Elahi on Wednesday approached the Lahore High Court against the detention of her husband under the MPO and his alleged shifting from Lahore jail to an unknown place.

Petitioner Qaisera Elahi contended through a counsel that the government had issued the detention order of Mr Elahi with a mala fide intention only to thwart Mr Elahi’s release after he secured bail in all cases filed against him.

The petitioner said an appeal against the detention had been filed before the deputy commissioner on the court’s direction, but no decision had been taken so far; instead, the government had shifted her husband from the Lahore Camp Jail to an undisclosed place.

She asked the court to declare Mr Elahi’s detention illegal and order the police to produce him before the court.

On Monday, the high court disposed of a petition against the detention of the former chief minister with a direction to file an appeal before the deputy commissioner.

Published in Dawn, July 20th, 2023