LAHORE: A special court (Central-I) on Tuesday sought arguments from the prosecution on the acquittal application of PTI President Parvez Elahi in a money laundering case registered by the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA).

In compliance with the court’s earlier order, Mr Elahi appeared in person along with his counsel, Amir Saeed Rawn.

The lawyer argued that the companies cited in the money laundering allegations had no connection with his client, as he was neither a shareholder nor a director. He contended that allegations were levelled without any supporting evidence.

He pointed out that a case carrying the same allegations had already been closed by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB).

Mr Elahi requested the court to allow him a permanent exemption from personal appearances.

Judge Arif Khan Niazi noted that a formal application must be filed for the exemption and the court would decide it in accordance with the law.

The judge asked the FIA prosecutor to come up with arguments on the acquittal application of the former chief minister.

He further directed the prosecution to explain whether the NAB reference and the FIA case contained overlapping allegations.

The judge ordered the FIA to submit a complete and consolidated challan on the next hearing on Sept 27.

In this case, the FIA alleged that the sons and the daughters-in-law of former chief minister Elahi committed money laundering through a low cadre employee of the Punjab Assembly.

It said the suspects used bank accounts of Qaiser Iqbal Bhatti, a peon of the assembly, to launder money.

The agency said unexplained transactions of millions of rupees had been traced in the accounts of the peon and the children of Elahi. It alleged that the assets of the peon had been found beyond his known sources of income.

The FIA said the inquiry in question had no relation with any previous probe as it had been initiated against a government servant, the assembly’s peon.

Moonis has been declared a proclaimed offender in the case.

Published in Dawn, September 10th, 2025