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LAHORE, Nov 25 (APP): A Special Court (Central) on Tuesday sought additional arguments on former Punjab chief minister Chaudhry Parvez Elahi’s acquittal application in the money laundering and suspicious bank transactions case, adjourning the proceedings until December 18.
Judge Arif Khan Niazi heard the acquittal plea, during which Pervez Elahi personally appeared before the court.
The judge noted that although the verdict on the acquittal plea had been reserved earlier, the court now required answers to several questions before announcing the decision.
The court remarked that Parvez Elahi faces specific allegations of misusing his public office. The judge observed that, similar to proceedings in the high court, the term “Chaudhry family” had also been mentioned in this case, with allegations that Elahi’s position benefited his family and their companies.
The court noted that NOCs for sugar mills were issued during a period when restrictions were in place, allegedly misusing powers both as chief minister and as apeaker.
Elahi’s counsel argued that the case was bogus, claiming Parvez Elahi had no connection with the companies being linked to him, nor with his family’s business entities.
The court questioned how the defence intended to prove that Parvez Elahi has no association with cases filed against other members of the family.
The defence maintained that cases previously quashed by courts were being revived under the same allegations. The judge directed Elahi’s lawyer to clearly establish how the plea for acquittal differs from the charges faced by other accused individuals, stating that it was the defence’s responsibility to prove this distinction.
Elahi’s counsel requested adjournment, stating that senior lawyer Aamir Saeed Raan was in Islamabad. The court accepted the request.
Meanwhile, the government prosecutor raised objections to Moonis Elahi’s application for defreezing of assets, pointing out that when a court declares someone a proclaimed offender , even their counsel is not allowed to appear on their behalf.