LAHORE: The Anti-Corruption Establishment (ACE) on Tuesday arrested Muhammad Khan Bhatti, the principal secretary to former chief minister Chaudhry Parvez Elahi, in a case of Rs800 million alleged corruption in public funds after he was released from jail.

Mr Bhatti got released from the Camp Jail in a money laundering case of the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA).

According to a spokesperson, Bhatti has been arrested in a corruption case registered against him in the Gujranwala ACE. He said Bhatti had taken bribes in a road project in Mandi Bahauddin.

Bhatti is also accused of misuse of power.

Last month, a special anti-corruption court had released Mr Bhatti on bail in another ACE case, however, the FIA had arrested him in the money laundering case and obtained his remand.

The ACE in earlier case had accused Mr Bhatti of taking bribes for transfers and postings of the government officials and for issuing funds for development projects.

Earlier, a sessions court granted post-arrest bail to Muhammad Khan Bhatti in a money laundering case.

Lahore Bar Association President Rana Intizar Hussain appeared on behalf of Bhatti and argued before the court that the FIA made a politically motivated case against his client. He said the Lahore High Court had already quashed an identical case against the petitioner.

A prosecutor opposed the bail petition saying material evidence was available on record to prove the offence of money laundering against the suspect.

Additional District and Sessions Judge Chaudhry Ghulam Rasool allowed the bail petition of Bhatti subject to furnishing of surety bonds of Rs500,000.

Published in Dawn, April 5th, 2023