LAHORE: A former official of the Punjab Highway Department, who was an absconding co-suspect in a reference of alleged kickbacks in development funds against former chief minister Parvez Elahi, on Wednesday surrendered before an accountability court.

Salman Ahmad, a former sub-engineer, appeared before the court along with his counsel and sought a pre-arrest bail.

The defence counsel assailed a report of the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) declaring his client an absconder.

He said according to the law, a 30-day procedure was required before declaring a suspect as an absconder, whereas the NAB declared the petitioner absconder in just 18 days, making the report questionable.

He further said the NAB’s claims were inconsistent, as the bureau had said the petitioner/suspect was in Africa and then it claimed he was in Dubai. He said the NAB rushed to declare the petitioner an absconder without proper investigation.

The court allowed bail to the suspect till March 19, subject to submission of two surety bonds worth Rs1 million each.

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

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

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

BAIL EXTENDED: An anti-terrorism court on Wednesday extended the interim bail of the PTI’s Lahore Secretary Awais Younas and others in cases of May 9 riots, including the one pertaining to attacks on Jinnah House and Askari Tower.

ATC-I Judge Manzer Ali Gill heard the petitions as accused persons appeared in the court on the expiry of their interim bail period.

The judge dismissed as withdrawn bail petition of a PTI worker, Azam Bhatti, after police said his arrest was not required in the Jinnah House attack.

A police official sought more time for further investigation from other accused, including Hasnain Ali, Azeemullah, Syeda Fatima, Rukhsana Naveed, Haider Ali, and Taqi Khan.

Published in Dawn, March 13th, 2025