Elahi remanded over to NAB in bribery case

An accountability court on Tuesday granted 14-day physical remand of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) President Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi to the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) over allegations of kickbacks in government contracts. According to Express News, the former Punjab chief minister was produced before Judge Zubair Shahzad Kayani's court under tight security. During the hearing, Elahi's lawyer Amjad Parvez sought permission to consult with his client before presenting the arguments, which was granted. NAB Prosecutor Waris Ali Janjua asked the judge for Elahi's physical remand in the case concerning scams and kickbacks in government contracts. "Developmental projects were approved without any regard for the entire province," argued the prosecutor. He said that Elahi had approved projects worth Rs72 billion for Gujarat alone. "Four people have already been arrested in this case," he told the court adding that Elahi was arrested yesterday and presented in the accountability court today (Tuesday). The lawyer claimed that roughly 200 projects were fast-tracked illegally under Elahi's watch. Read SC to hear Elahi’s bail plea on Aug 16 The NAB lawyer claimed that Moonis Elahi, son of Pervaiz Elahi, held a meeting and fixed the share of kickbacks. On the other hand, Pervaiz Elahi's lawyer argued before the court that petitions against his client's arrest were pending before the Supreme Court and the Lahore High Court, and yet he was arrested. The accountability court however approved the prosecutor's request for physical remand until August 21 and handed him over to NAB for investigation. Notably, the PTI president was first arrested by Anti-Corruption Establishment (ACE) with the help of Punjab Police in Lahore on June 1. He has since been released and rearrested under various charges.

from Pakistan News, Latest News Pakistan, Pakistan Headline | The Express Tribune https://ift.tt/SowqCZH