LAHORE: The indictment of PTI President Parvez Elahi and other suspects in two corruption cases was delayed once again on Thursday as the officials of the Adiala jail, Rawalpindi, did not present the former chief minister before the respective courts for medical reasons.

A jail official informed the courts that Mr Elahi had broken four ribs after he fell in the washroom of his cell. He said the doctors had advised the former chief minister against travel.

Mr Elahi and other suspects were scheduled to be indicted in cases of illegal appointments in the Punjab Assembly by a special court for anti-corruption and receiving kickbacks for releasing development funds by an accountability court.

Both courts adjourned the hearing till April 18.

Other suspects, including Muhammad Khan Bhatti, former principal secretary to the CM, were produced before the courts.

The Anti-Corruption Establish-ment alleged that illegal appointments of BS-17 posts were made in the provincial assembly when Mr Elahi was the chief minister and Mr Bhatti was his principal secretary. It said favourite candidates were appointed to the posts despite being declared failed in the written examination.

In the other case, the NAB alleged that Bhatti being the principal secretary to then chief minister Elahi maneuvered the award of contracts in favour of blue-eyed contractors in connivance with other suspects, including officials of government departments.

It said the suspect had released full payment to the contractors even before the commencement of construction work only to receive kickbacks.

The bureau alleged that money from the corruption committed by Bhatti had been transferred into the bank accounts of Mr Elahi and his son Moonis Elahi.

Published in Dawn, April 5th, 2024