Hearing of Moonis Elahi case put off

LAHORE: District and Sessions Judge Mujahid Mustaqim on Monday adjourning by October 3 the hearing of case against PML-Q leader Moonis Elahi, involved in National Insurance Corporation Limited scam, ordered FIA to submit complete challan by next hearing.

The court observed that if FIA officials failed to submit complete challan by next hearing, then the court would start further proceedings on acquittal application of Moonis Elahi

As proceedings started today, FIA officials presented an application before the court from Addl Director General FIA Zafar Quershi seeking exemption from personal appearance due to security concerns and 15-days time to submit complete challan.

Moonis's counsel opposed the request contending that the prosecution was wasting time of the court.

However, the court after hearing the arguments of both parties exempted Zafar Quershi from personal appearance but refused to allow 15-day time for submission of complete challan.

The court ordered FIA officials to submit complete challan by October 3, otherwise, the court would start further proceedings on acquittal application of Moonis Elahi.

Moonis Elahi was accused of receiving Rs 320 million in the NICL scam through bogus accounts. His Manager Abdul Maalick, Rizwan Bhatti and Khalil Ahmad were also indicted in the case.

On last hearing, the FIA had already filed supplementary challan declaring moonis guilty.

Earlier, the defence counsel had completed their arguments on a acquittal application of Moonis Elahi but the court allowed time to FIA for re-investigating the matter and filing challan in the matter.

Lahore High Court Chief Justice Ijaz Ahmad Chaudhry had transferred the NICL case to the D&SJ, Lahore, after the judge of special court for banking offence, Malik Abdul Rasheed, had refused to proceed with the case.

Copyright APP (Associated Press of Pakistan), 2011