LAHORE: A special court (Central-I) on Saturday issued bailable warrants for the arrest of former federal minister Moonis Elahi in a money laundering case registered by Federal Investigation Agency (FIA).

Investigation Officer (IO) Inspector Fakhar Abbas filed an application to the court saying reports regarding the service of summons to the suspect to the extent of his addresses in the United Kingdom and Spain had been received through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA).

He said the reports showed that nobody was available on the suspect’s addresses in Spain and the UK. However, he said, the summons were slipped under the doors of the houses.

The IO said the suspect was residing outside Pakistan and his addresses in the UK and Spain were available. However, he said, the suspect had been avoiding the summons on the available addresses.

He asked the court to proceed against the suspect under the law and issue his arrest warrants.

After going through the reports and an affidavit filed by the IO, Judge Abdul Sattar Langah observed that the court sees reasons to believe that the suspect has absconded or he will not obey the summons.

The judge accepted the application of the police and issued bailable warrants for the arrest of Moonis Elahi. The judge adjourned the hearing till Oct 11.

The FIA registered three cases of alleged money laundering against Moonis and his family after he left the country. His father, PTI president Parvez Elahi, is behind the bars in multiple cases registered against him.

Published in Dawn, October 1st, 2023