LAHORE: An accountability court on Wednesday granted former chief minister Parvez Elahi a one-time exemption from personal appearance in the hearing of a reference of alleged kickbacks in development projects.

At the outset of the hearing, Judge Zubair Shahzad Kayani asked about the continuous absence of Mr Elahi.

At this, Elahi’s counsel Amjad Parvez stated that doctors had advised a complete rest to his client due to illness.

The judge observed that Elahi needs to appear in the court for the indictment so the trial could be started formally.

The lawyer pointed out that the NAB had not yet provided the documents related to the inquiry of the reference. He said despite a court order to provide copies of the inquiry’s witnesses, the NAB also failed to comply and instead challenged the decision in the Lahore High Court, resulting in dismissal with a fine.

Advocate Parvez argued that charges should not be framed until the copies were received.

A NAB prosecutor told the court that an appeal was being filed in the Supreme Court against the high court’s dismissal order. He sought an adjournment for 15 days.

The judge adjourned the hearing till Sept 10.

ECL: Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf President Parvez Elahi, his son Rasikh Elahi and daughter-in-law Zahra Elahi have moved the Lahore High Court challenging the inclusion of their names in different lists carrying travel restrictions.

A petition filed through Advocate Abuzar Salman Niazi stated that the LHC had previously ordered the interior ministry to remove the names of the petitioners from the lists, allowing them to travel abroad.

However, it said, the authorities temporarily removed their names, only to re-include them later.

The petition stated that Mr Elahi wishes to travel abroad with his family for Umrah.

It asked the court to order the authorities to permanently remove the names of the petitioners from the no-fly lists.

Justice Shams Mahmood Mirza had on July 8 ordered the interior ministry to remove the names of Mr Elahi and his two family members from the restricted lists, allowing them to travel abroad.

The former chief minister was placed on the Passport Control List (PCL) while the other two were named in the Exit Control List (ECL).

Published in Dawn, August 29th, 2024