LAHORE: Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain, whose Pakistan Muslim League (PML-Q) party is an ally of the ruling coalition, on Monday condemned the police raid on former Punjab CM Chaudhry Parvez Elahi’s residence, calling it unacceptable.

The PML-Q leader’s home, which is located adja­cent to his cousin Mr Elahi’s residence, was also breached during the late-night raid on Friday. Two of Chaudhry Shujaat’s sons were injured while an arm­oured vehicle was used to break open the gate of Mr Elahi’s residence.

“This is completely una­c­ceptable,” he said while speaking to journalists and demanded that all those behind the raid be caught and held accountable.

The PML-Q chief said he had asked his sons to exercise patience, adding he would speak on the matter at length later.

Emphasising that he did not want to say anything that could harm national politics as the country was already facing a plethora of crises, Mr Hussain said, “When the police arrived at Parvez Elahi’s residence, they were informed that he was at Chaudhry Shujaat’s place. The policemen then barged into my house.”

The veteran politician said his sons tried to stop the police from entering the house, but they entered forcibly. He said police also smashed windowpanes of the door but could not get it opened.

He said that when police were asked about the reason for raid, they would say it was about billions of rupees commission taken for grant of contracts for construction of roads in Gujrat, as well as bribe from an international firm.

Mr Hussain clarified that his sons had nothing to do with these cases.

Only a day earlier, caretaker Punjab Chief Minister Mohsin Naqvi had said he was “appalled” to know that the police had stormed into the PML-Q president’s house to arrest the PTI leader.

Responding to a tweet of PML-Q chief’s son Chaudhry Salik Husain, Mr Naqvi assured, “No illegal action will be allowed by anyone”.

In a tweet, he said: “Appalled to know that the team went to arrest Parvez Elahi but stormed Ch Shujaat’s House in which Ch Salik Hussain got injured. The law should take its course”.

It may be mentioned that both federal and Punjab governments have distanced themselves from the police raid.

Published in Dawn, May 2nd, 2023