LAHORE: An accountability court on Friday framed charges against Muhammad Khan Bhatti, former principal secretary to ex-chief minister, and five other suspects in a reference of receiving kickbacks in Gujrat development projects as PTI President Parvez Elahi again skipped the hearing for medical reasons.

At the outset of the hearing, Judge Zubair Shahzad Kayani asked a defence counsel as to why Mr Elahi did not appear in the court.

Advocate Chaudhry Nawaz, the defence, said Mr Elahi slipped and fell in the bathroom on Thursday evening. He said the PTI leader had sustained injuries to his back and ankle.

The lawyer said doctors advised elderly Parvez Elahi to wear diapers as he cannot even go to the bathroom independently.

Parvez Elahi again skips hearing for medical reasons

NAB special prosecutor Waris Ali Janjua said the defence submitted a medical excuse on every hearing to avoid indictment of Mr Elahi.

The judge asked the prosecutor can the charges be framed on the suspects present in the court.

The judge noted that the court may indict Mr Elahi on another day.

Mr Janjua stated that separate indictments can be conducted for different suspects.

However, a defence lawyer for Khan Bhatti argued separate indictments for the accused were not possible.

He said Mr Elahi was the primary suspect and without his presence, others cannot be indicted.

“If Parvez Elahi is not charged, indictment of others would be illegal,” he added.

He suggested appointing a pleader for Mr Elahi would allow the charges to be framed in his absence.

The defence also sought more time, requesting the court to adjourn the hearing.

However, the judge indicted six present suspects including Khan Bhatti and directed the prosecution to present its witnesses at the next hearing as the suspects pleaded not guilty.

The judge also summoned Mr Elahi for indictment on Jan 7.

Other indicted suspects include Naeem Iqbal, Asif Mehmood Rathore, Muhammad Asghar, Khalid Muhammad Chattha, and Asad Ali.

The NAB alleged that Khan Bhatti being the 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 Mr Elahi being chief minister approved full payment to the contractors even before the commencement of construction work only to receive kickbacks.

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

Published in Dawn, December 21st, 2024