LAHORE: An accountability court on Friday once again delayed the indictment of former chief minister Parvez Elahi and others in a reference of receiving kickbacks in development funds.

A lawyer for Mr Elahi presented a medical report before the court, saying doctors had advised his client a complete bed rest following a minor abdominal surgery.

A NAB prosecutor objected to the veracity of the medical certificate issued by a private hospital, saying the suspect had been deliberately avoiding court’s proceedings since his release on bail.

The court adjourned the hearing till July 11 and observed that an inquiry would be ordered if the same medical certificate of the suspect was presented at the next hearing.

Since his release from jail, Elahi’s indictment had been delayed in the case on medical grounds.

The NAB alleged that suspect Muhammad Khan Bhatti, being 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 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 Elahi and his son Moonis Elahi.

PCL Justice Ali Baqar Najafi of the Lahore High Court on Friday overruled an office objection on a petition of Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) President Parvez Elahi against the inclusion of his name in the passport control list (PCL).

Justice Najafi further directed the office to place the petition for hearing before the court of Justice Shams Mahmood Mirza, who is already seized with similar matters.

Mr Elahi, also a former chief minister, pleaded in the petition that he along with his other family members intended to visit Saudi Arabia to perform Umrah and for this purpose returned air tickets have also been booked from July 20 to Aug 5.

The petitioner said he recently found out that his name had been placed on the PCL without any lawful justification.

The PTI leader said he had been granted bail in all politically motivated cases registered against him. He said the authorities had placed him on the PCL without issuing him a prior notice or affording him an opportunity of hearing to ensure fairness.

Published in Dawn, June 29th, 2024