LAHORE: An accountability court on Tuesday adjourned the hearing of a corruption reference against PTI President Parvez Elahi and others until Nov 12.

Mr Elahi did not appear before the court and his lawyer filed an application seeking one-time exemption from personal appearance on medical grounds.

Judge Zubair Shahzad Kayani allowed the application of Mr Elahi.

The NAB investigating officer submitted a reply to the arguments of the suspects on the jurisdiction of the court to proceed with the reference after the amendments to the National Accountability Ordinance 1999.

The judge instructed all parties to complete their arguments at the next hearing.

The suspects, including Muhammad Khan Bhatti, former principal secretary to the chief minister, also filed an application for discharge from the reference.

A lawyer for the suspects requested the court to postpone the hearing due to the Supreme Court Bar Association elections.

The judge was told that NAB Prosecutor Waris Ali Janjua also went to cast his vote in the bar elections.

The judge adjourned the hearing for final arguments on the point of the court’s jurisdiction.

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

It said the suspect 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, October 30th, 2024