LAHORE: An accountability court on Wednesday summoned former chief minister Pervez Elahi on April 14 in a reference related to alleged kickbacks in Gujrat development projects.

During the hearing, a counsel for Mr Elahi submitted an application to change his appointed pleader in the case.

However, Duty Judge Qaiser Nazir Butt observed that the accused must appear in person for the appointment of a new pleader.

Elahi’s lawyer argued that his client was unwell and had been granted permanent exemption from personal appearance.

The duty judge expressed displeasure, asking the counsel whether the court should revoke the exemption granted to his client.

At this, the lawyer assured the court that Mr Elahi will appear at the next hearing.

Meanwhile, Elahi’s previously-appointed pleader, Anwaar Hussain, did not appear in the court, as he had been appointed as an assistant advocate general by the Punjab government.

Advocate Javed Arshad Bhatti, who represented Mr Elahi, requested the court to appoint Mukhtar Ahmad Ranjha as the new pleader.

The NAB reference alleged that Muhammad Khan Bhatti being principal secretary to then chief minister Elahi maneuvered the award of contracts in favour of blue-eyed contractors in connivance with other suspects including officials of government departments.

It said the suspects released full payment to the contractors even before the commencement of construction work only to receive kickbacks.

The bureau alleged that money from the corruption committed by Bhatti had been transferred into the bank accounts of Elahi and his son Moonis Elahi.

Published in Dawn, March 27th, 2025