The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) formally submitted charges against Punjab Assembly member Moonis Elahi on Monday, accusing him of financial fraud in connection with the National Insurance Company Ltd (NICL) case.
During a hearing of the case, Elahi’s lawyers argued that the FIA has been unable to produce any evidence against his client despite having held him in custody for 14 days. FIA investigators stated that they would formally be submitting charges, along with evidence that they have collected against Elahi, later in the afternoon. At 2 pm on Monday, the FIA submitted evidence to the court against Elahi, Abdul Malik who is a manager at one of the companies Elahi owns, and two employees of banks who are accused of aiding Elahi’s allegedly fraudulent transactions.
Malik opened several bank accounts in Lahore through which Rs320 million was eventually transferred to Elahi, according to the FIA. It remains unclear as to which laws Elahi is accused of breaking.
The court is expected to indict Elahi at the next hearing, scheduled for April 19.
Elahi’s party, the Pakistan Muslim League Quaid (PML-Q), meanwhile, has issued a statement accusing the investigating officer, Zafar Qureshi, of pursuing a personal vendetta against the Elahi family.
Published in The Express Tribune, April 12th, 2011.
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