Court discharges Elahi in sugar quota case

A trial court on Thursday discharged Parvez Elahi in a case related to an increase in the quota of around two dozen sugar mills in Punjab during his term as the chief minister in 2022 in alleged violation of rules.

The same court, however, remanded the PTI central president in the Anti-Corruption Establishment’s (ACE) custody for two days for interrogation into allegations about illegal hiring in the Punjab Assembly.

As proceedings in the sugar quota case commenced, a law officer told Judicial Magistrate Imran Abid that during Parvez Elahi's term as the chief minister, the provincial government increased the quota of 22 out of the 44 sugar mills in the province.

"The move was aimed at providing undue benefit to favorites. It caused a loss of billions of rupees to the national exchequer. Parvez Elahi also increased the quota of Rahim Yar Khan Sugar Mill while violating the due process," he added.

Elahi’s counsel Rana Intizar Hussain strongly opposed the ACE’s prosecution, arguing that the case was part of a politically motivated vendetta, and his client had been implicated in a forged case.

He said the former chief minister had done nothing illegal nor caused any loss to the national exchequer. The allegations leveled against Parvez Elahi and others have nothing to do with reality, he argued. After hearing detailed arguments, the magistrate discharged Elahi in this case.

However, the court remanded the PTI leader in the ACE’s custody in another case that accused Parvez Elahi of making illegal hiring at the Punjab Assembly where he served as the speaker during the major part of the PTI party’s rule.

In his arguments, Elahi’s counsel said the recruitment at the Punjab Assembly was made on the basis of a test conducted by an independent testing service, the Open Testing Service (OTS).

"I also have certified documents issued by the OTS. The results of the test were published on the website, followed by interviews,” he said, asking if the ACE had the statement of the 12 recruits who allegedly bribed Elahi to get the posts.

The ACE prosecutor argued that first, a fraudulent website was created. He said the QR [quick response] codes of the successful candidates were assigned to the people who were supposed to be hired.

"QR codes were used in this process. Names and pictures of fraudulent candidates were placed on the QR codes of successful candidates. Due to this irregularity, meritorious candidates were deprived of their rights,” he said, requesting the court to remand Elahi in the ACE’s custody for interrogation.

The court at first reserved its order on the request but later accepted it.

[WITH INPUT FROM NEWS DESK]