In a major relief to the Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q), the Lahore High Court (LHC) on Monday quashed a money laundering case registered against Punjab Chief Minister Parvez Elahi’s son Chaudhry Moonis Elahi.
Justice Asjad Javed Ghural passed the orders after hearing arguments of both sides on a petition seeking dismissal of a money laundering case filed against him by the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA).
The decision came three days after a Special Court (offence in banks) accepted the FIA challan against Moonis Elahi in the money laundering case. Judge Muhammad Aslam Gondal accepted the challan and summoned Moonis and others on October 11.
The FIA in its challan nominated Moonis Elahi, Nawaz, Mazhar and Wajid Ahmed Ali Bhatti as accused. The challan also pointed out the role of a naib qasid and peon in the case.
“Nawaz Bhatti is a close relative of Muhammad Khan Bhatti – the principal secretary to punjab chief minister,” read the challan. It also mentioned 42 accounts opened under fake names, besides containing the names of nine other fake institutions. The FIA in its challan also held Nawaz and Mazhar responsible for assisting Moonis Elahi in the money laundering case.
Earlier in the day, Moonis Elahi through his counsel had argued that the FIA registered a case against his client purely on political grounds, as he had nothing to do with the allegation of money laundering.
He said that when political rivals came into power, they targeted their opponents and the same happened to him and his family members.
The petitioner said that as per the content of the first information report (FIR), the time period of the occurrence was shown as 2007-2000, while the FIR was registered on June 14, 2022, whereas no explanation was available for this shocking delay.
He said the registration of the FIR against him was illegal and without lawful authority.
The PML-Q leader asked the court to declare the said FIR mala fide, illegal and without lawful authority, and the same be quashed in the interest of justice. He also asked the court to restrain FIA officials from taking coercive measures and adverse steps under the cover of an impugned FIR.
