LAHORE: A special court (Central-I) on Friday issued non-bailable arrest warrants for former federal minister Moonis Elahi in a money laundering case.

Judge Tanvir Ahmad Sheikh observed that bailable warrants of the suspect had already been issued and he failed to appear before the court despite a directive issued to his pleader.

The judge maintained that coercive measures taken against the suspect, Moonis Elahi, to procure his attendance cannot be stopped on the ground that his pleader appeared before the court.

“When an accused remains in hiding and plays hide and seek with law, he is bound to face all the adverse/legal consequences,” he asserted dismissing an application of the pleader for Moonis.

The judge directed the FIA to get the non-bailable warrants executed from the suspect’s address of Barcelona (Spain) as, according to the investigating officer, the suspect last time travelled to Spain.

The FIA did not bring PTI President Parvez Elahi to the court from Adiala Jail, Rawalpindi on the ground of his illness. The IO submitted a medical certificate issued by the jail’s doctor.

The judge directed the FIA to ensure the appearance of Mr Elahi on the next hearing.

The judge also issued bailable warrants for the arrest of co-suspect Muhammad Gibran, who is believed to have escaped the country.

The judge gave a 30-day time to another absconding suspect, Amir Sohail, to appear before the court; otherwise, he would be declared a proclaimed offender.

A lawyer for the National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) told the court that the CNICs of both absconding suspects had been blocked.

The judge directed the IO to submit challan to the extent of suspects who joined the proceedings.

The judge adjourned the hearing till Nov 16.

The FIA registered three cases of alleged money laundering against Moonis and his family after he left the country. His father Parvez Elahi is on judicial remand in multiple cases registered against him.

Published in Dawn, November 4th, 2023