LAHORE: The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) on Wednesday requested an accountability court to frame charges against former chief minister Parvez Elahi and others in a reference pertaining to alleged kickbacks in issuance of development funds.

However, Mr Elahi’s lawyer questioned the jurisdiction of the accountability court to hear the matter after the amendments to the National Accountability Ordinance 1999 had been upheld by the Supreme Court.

During the hearing of the reference, NAB Prosecutor Waris Janjua told the court that copies of witnesses’ statements had been provided to all suspects.

He asked the court to indict the suspects at the next hearing.

Mr Elahi’s counsel Amjad Pervez argued that the allegation against his client pertained to misuse of authority, which, after the amendments in the NAB law, no longer fell under the accountability court’s jurisdiction.

Judge Zubair Shahzad Kiyani adjourned the hearing till Oct 2 and directed the counsel to present more arguments on the question of jurisdiction.

Mr Elahi, who is Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf president, did not appear before the court on health grounds and was allowed one-time exemption from attendance on his lawyer’s request.

The NAB reference alleged that Muhammad Khan Bhatti, being principal secretary to the then chief minister Mr Elahi, maneuvered the award of contracts in favour of some contractors, in connivance with other suspects, including some officials of government departments.

It said the suspect got released full payment to the contractors even before the commencement of construction work, only to “receive kickbacks”.

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

Published in Dawn, September 26th, 2024