FIA books Moonis in money laundering case

Agency arrests two close associates of the PML-Q leader

LAHORE:

The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) on Wednesday registered a money laundering case against PML-Q leader and former federal minister Moonis Elahi and others in a case pertaining to his alleged involvement in a scam to the tune of Rs720 million.

The investigation agency also arrested two of Elahi's close associates – Nawaz Bhatti and Mazhar Iqbal – on the charges that the two men used to facilitate the PML-Q leader to embezzle money.

According to the FIA's first information report, the case against Elahi was registered on Tuesday under Sections 34 (acts done by several persons in furtherance of a common intention), 109 (punishment for abetment), 420 (cheating and dishonestly inducing delivery of property), 468 (forgery for purpose of cheating) and 471 (using a genuine forged document) of the Pakistan Penal Code, read with Section 5(2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1947 and Section 4 of the Anti-Money Laundering Act, 2010.

The state has been named as the complainant in the FIR.

The agency also accused Moonis of using ‘hundi’ to transfer money out of Pakistan, saying it had "solid evidence" against the former minister.

Read Moonis Elahi's arrest 'out of question': NAB

According to sources, the FIA was also probing suspicious transactions worth Rs250 million involving the PML-Q leader’s sugar mills. Moonis is a shareholder in Alliance Sugar Mills.

The FIR said the agency’s Anti-Corruption Circle in Lahore had registered an inquiry on August 7, 2020 pursuant to a report of the Sugar Inquiry Commission 2020.

It said that in light of the report, the FIA was mandated by the federal government to probe financial and corporate frauds committed by various sugar mills, including Rahim Yar Khan (RYK)/Alliance Sugar Mills.

"During the ongoing probe against RYK/ Alliance Sugar Mills Group, it transpired that the following low-profile individuals — one of them had been at a very low level at the time — had jointly set up RYK Sugar Mills Ltd. in 2007/2008 at Rahim Yar Khan," the FIR stated.

The FIR added that the mill was "set up ostensibly by laundering funds from unexplained sources, including proceeds of financial crimes".

It further said that the mill's capital increased by Rs720 million in 2008 but the source for these funds, as well as those required for the acquisition of land, import of plants and machinery and administrative expenses, remained "unexplained".‘Pressure tactic’Meanwhile, shortly after the case was registered, Moonis took to Twitter and rejected the case as a "pressure tactic". "Do whatever you want. I appeared before [the FIA] and will appear again. Wait for me, I am coming."

He claimed the FIA wanted to arrest him and that he had no idea about the two suspects arrested by the agency in his case.

“I will appear before the FIA for interrogation,” he said. “I will stand with Imran Khan through thick and thin,” added Elahi, implying that the government registered the case against him over his party’s support for the former premier.

Later, Moonis along with other PML-Q workers gathered outside the FIA office to protest against the action he said was aimed at “exacting revenge” on him.

The enraged PML-Q workers chanted slogans while holding banners and placards.

Speaking outside the FIA office, the leader said that it was the move reeked of “political revenge”, adding that the “drama” was linked to the “fake budget” being presented by the Punjab government in a “fake assembly”.

Addressing Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah, Moonis dared him “to do whatever you think you can do. I myself have arrived outside the FIA office”.

Speaking to a private news channel, Moonis Elahi said the investigation agency had "simply issued a press release" and he only found out from the media yesterday that an FIR had been filed against him.

"They missed a legal step and then sent out teams to arrest me," he said. "I told them why are you dispatching teams for my arrest. I myself will come over to the FIA office. Fuel has become so costly as it is, why waste it?" he added.Pre-arrest bail plea returnedLater in the day, Moonis Elahi approached a Lahore Special Central Court to secure a pre-arrest bail. However, the court turned down the bail application.

The special central court returned the PML-Q leader’s petition with objections that the petitioner has not approached the appropriate forum.

It is pertinent to note that Punjab Assembly Speaker Elahi, former federal minister Wajahat and their sons Moonis and Hussain have remained within the alliance with the PTI, while PML-Q president Chaudhry Shujaat and his sons, MNA Salik Hussain and Shafay Hussain, entered the ruling coalition camp along with two other party MNAs.

Lately, gaps between the two factions have further deepened over party allegiances.