Pervez Elahi granted pre-arrest bail in corruption case

An anti-corruption court judge on Friday granted pre-arrest bail to former Punjab chief minister Chaudhry Pervez Elahi in the case pertaining to alleged corruption of Rs125 million.

In earlier proceedings, the judge had reserved the decision on the former CM’s bail plea by extending it by a day, and had fixed April 28 (today) for announcing the decision.

As the proceedings commenced today, Elahi’s counsel submitted an application seeking the latter's exemption from personal appearance before the court today, owing to his health issues.

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Granting Elahi the permission to not appear before the court, the judge announced the decision with a direction to submit surety bonds of Rs1 million.

During the hearing, the judge observed that no one could be punished relying upon the statement of the accused. The law officer opposing the arguments of the petitioner's counsel had requested the court to dismiss the bail.

The Punjab anti-corruption department had registered an FIR against Elahi, his son Moonis Elahi, Muhammad Khan Bhatti and others, for receiving Rs125 million in kickbacks through the Lahore Waste Management Company from a foreign company against a payable amount.

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Out of the Rs125 millon, kickbacks worth Rs65 million were taken by Elahi, while the rest were shared between the others. The department claimed to have registered a first information report (FIR) against the accused persons on substantial evidence.

In yesterday's proceedings, Elahi’s counsel had told the court that the concerned quarters registered a false and fabricated FIR against the accused

A court had discharged the main accused in this case while accused Muhammad Khan Bhatti had also been discharged, he added.

The judge had reserved the decision after hearing detailed arguments.