LAHORE: A special court for anti-corruption on Wednesday continued to delay the indictment of the suspects in a case of illegal appointments made in the Punjab Assembly due to the absence of prime suspect PTI President Parvez Elahi and his former principal secretary, Muhammad Khan Bhatti.

A lawyer for Mr Elahi told the court that his client was unable to attend the hearing due to illness. He said doctors had advised the PTI leader a complete bed rest.

He asked the court to allow an application for a one-time exemption from personal appearance.

The prosecution informed the court that suspect Khan Bhatti was admitted to Services Hospital for a minor surgery.

Judge Sardar Iqbal Dogar allowed the application of Mr Elahi and adjourned the hearing till Nov 27.

The judge also deferred the indictment in the case until the appearance of all suspects.

The Anti-Corruption Establishment (ACE) had registered the FIR alleging that illegal appointments of BS-17 posts were made in the assembly when Elahi was the chief minister and co-suspect Muhammad Khan Bhatti was his principal secretary in 2021.The prosecution said favourite candidates were appointed to the posts despite being declared failed in the written examination. The appointed candidates had also been nominated as suspects in the case.

The indictment of Mr Elahi in different cases has been delayed by the relevant courts for several months due to his absence at the hearings on medical grounds before and after his release on bail as well.

Besides the charges of illegal appointment in the assembly, he faces a NAB reference of receiving kickbacks in development funds and a money laundering case registered by the FIA.

Published in Dawn, November 14th, 2024