Ch. Shujaat Hussain accepts Nawaz Sharif's debate challenge in National Assembly

ISLAMABAD (INP) - PML-Q president Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain has accepted the challenge by the PML-N to debate in the National Assembly the corruption allegations against Moonis Elahi. Since the deal between Warraich family and the NICL had been cancelled, there was no substance in the propaganda launched by PML-N leader Nawaz Sharif against Moonis Elahi, he said. 

In an exclusive interview with INP news agency, Shujaat said the PML-Q had not been provided any opportunity to be heard properly at any forum which was against the principles of justice. 

He said since day one, they were clear indications that this campaign had been launched by the Sharif family. “Now their claim to debate the issue in the National Assembly will unmask their real face.” 

“The propaganda against Moonis was so strong and well-planned that no court was ready to listen to the version of my family,” Shujaat said, adding: “But the PML-N’s claim to debate the issue in parliament would also provide us an opportunity to establish facts against the fiction.”
Shujaat argued how justice could be done if the defendant was not properly heard and only fiction had been preferred to facts.



 
About his party’s alliance with the ruling PPP, he said his party was looking for a long-term strategic partnership with the PPP and despite some difficulties, it would opt for seat adjustments with the ruling party in next elections

NICL Scam and the innocence of Moonis Elahi

Banking Court Judge on Moonis Elahi’s acquittal request unexpectedly sends case to LHC

Unprecedented partiality shown by the learned judge

We have full faith in LHC Chief Justice: Moonis Elahi’s Lawyers

Lahore (05-07-2011) During the hearing of the acquittal petition of Moonis Elahi the senior leader of Pakistan Muslim League in the NICL case today the Banking Court Judge Abdul Rasheed unexpectedly refused to further hear the case and sent it to Chief Justice Lahore High Court. Moonis Elahi’s lawyers expressing their strong dissatisfaction on this decision said that the law had not been followed and the learned judge before taking the decision neither heard their arguments nor considered the superior courts’ earlier judgments that had been put before him.

At the outset of the hearing which instead of morning began at 2pm Moonis Elahi’s lawyers requested the learned judge to take into account the fact that all the eight prosecution witnesses and the FIA’s Investigating Officer had testified to Moonis Elahi’s innocence. Later talking to the media Moonis Elahi’s lawyers Rai Bashir Ahmad and Amjad Parvez said that the attitude of the learned judge from the beginning of the proceedings was inflexible and a test of their nerves. They said that today the learned court was to hear Moonis Elahi’s acquittal petition filed under CRPC 249/A and as a guide line they had also presented the Supreme Court and High Court decisions in this regard as references but the learned judge started putting new questions to Mohammad Maalik instead. On being pointed out that questioning Mohammad Maalik was outside the scope of the acquittal petition the learned judge angrily closed the file and declared that he didn’t want to hear the case and was sending it to Chief Justice, Lahore High Court, said Moonis Elahi’s lawyers. They said that the lawyers had sacrificed their lives and well being for the supremacy of the judiciary but the learned judge’s demeanour today nullified these sacrifices. Moonis Elahi’s lawyers said that the partial behaviour demonstrated by the learned judge today was unprecedented. They said that the learned court could see that the case had clearly gone in Moonis Elahi’s favour and that the FIA had failed to prove his involvement. In this situation there was no other recourse available to the court but to acquit Moonis Elahi, opined the lawyers. It will be a matter of honour if the Lahore High Court Chief Justice hears the case as we have full confidence in him, the lawyers added.

Throughout today’s proceedings a very large number of PML workers and Moonis Elahi supporters remained outside the court and continued to chant slogans in their leader’s favour.

Moonis Elahi files acquittal appeal in Banking Court

LAHORE: PML-Q leader Moonis Elahi on Friday filed an application in the Banking Offences Court under Section 249-A CrPC, seeking his acquittal in the NICL case. 

As per Section 249-A of CrPC, a court can acquit an accused at any stage of the case, if, after hearing the prosecutor and the accused and for reasons to be recorded, it considers that the charges are groundless or that there is no probability of the accused being convicted of any offence.

On Friday, the counsel of Moonis submitted an application in the court contending that all the prosecution witnesses in the scam against Moonis had denied recording of any statement against his client. He said that the trial was a wastage of time both for the court as well as his client as prosecution had failed to level charges against his client. He said that his client was innocent and was implicated only on political grounds.

Previously, eight prosecution witnesses while recording their statements before a magisterial court of Irfan Basra had denied recording of any statement as witness before the FIA. Before the banking court, they had denied opening of any account by Moonis Elahi’s manager Muhammad Maalik and stated that the accounts in question were personally opened and operated by two individuals, namely Adil Manzur and Khadim Rasul.

3 more witnesses deny recording statements against Moonis Elahi

Lahore (June 28, 2011) The remaining three prosecution witnesses presented by the FIA today in Lahore Banking Court in the NICL case like the five other prosecution witnesses have also refuted the charges leveled against senior Pakistan Muslim League Leader Moonis Elahi. Earlier during the proceedings the cashier of UBL, Airport Branch, Lahore Safdar Ali testifying before the Honorable Judge Malik Abdur Raheed stated that it was Adil Manzoor who had come to the bank with a cheque and taken the money. He further stated that the FIA had summoned him on Feb-05 where he had not recorded any statement. 

The second prosecution witness was ABL, Multan Road Branch Vice President Maroor-ur-Rehman who stated that a man named Khadim Rasool had himself come to the bank and opened the account. He further stated that it was Khadim Rasool who later brought a cheque and took the cash. During investigation I was summoned by the FIA but I had not given any statement to them, testified the ABL Vice President. The third prosecution witness Hafiz Shahid Bilal the cashier at ABL Multan Road Branch also testified that it was only Khadim Rasool who used to come to the branch with cheques for encashment and he had given Khadim Rasool money after his identification. Both the bank cashiers informed the court that they could recognize Adil Manzoor and Khadim Rasool. On the Honorable Judge’s query Hafiz Junaid Shahid after looking at the individuals present in the court room testified that none of them was Khadim Rasool. The bank cashiers also stated that money was only handed over to M/s Adil Manzoor and Khadim Rasool after checking their National Identification cards. After the witnesses’ statements the Honorable Judge adjourned the court hearing till July-5. Earlier Moonis Elahi was brought amid heavy security to the Banking Court where a large number of Pakistan Muslim League’s workers and Moonis Elahi supporters had assembled to express solidarity with him.

FIA Investigation Officer denies Moonis involvement in NICL scam case

Thursday, June 23, 2011

LAHORE

The FIA deputy director and investigation officer (IO) of National Industrial Corporation Limited (NICL) land scam on Wednesday denied Moonis Elahi’s involvement in the main fraud case of Rs.168 billion. 

During his testimony before special banking offences court, the FIA director, Basharat Shahzad, stated that Moonis was not directly involved in subsequent two fraud cases of Rs.320 million. 

Meanwhile, another prosecution witness, Hina Rabbai, an employee of the Allied Bank Limited, Multan Road branch, also denied recording of any statement as witness before the FIA. On Wednesday, FIA produced Moois Elahi before the court amid tight security.

The FIA deputy director, during cross examination, said that Moonis was not involved in NICL main scam of Rs. 1.68 billion. The whole embezzled amount had also been returned to Commerce secretary, he added. 

On this, Moonis counsel asked if his client was also involved in other two FIRs(24/10 and 46/11) related to the scam. 

Replying to Moonis counsel, Bashart said that Moonis was not directly involved in both FIRs. He stated that, after getting a questionnaire from Moonis, he had written a letter to the FIA director general that Moonis was not directly involved in both of the subsequent FIRs. 

Meanwhile, Hinna Rabbani, while recording her statement, said that FIA had called her on February 5 at about 9pm in FIA office, asking her to record her statement as witness against Moonis but she had not recorded any statement against him. 

Summoning further prosecution witnesses, the court adjourned the hearing by June 28. 

According to the FIA, Moonis had opened bogus accounts in the name of his manager Abdul Malik and his wife for corruption in NICL. 

Later, the FIA lodged two FIRs against Moonis Elahi, alleging that his manger Muhammad Malik had opened forged accounts in Allied Bank Limited, New Airport, and Dubai Islamic Bank Main Boulevard branch. Mohsin Warriach deposited Rs. 320 million, 220 million in first account and 100 million in second account. First FIR was registered on December 27, 2010 while the second was lodged on January 27 this year. 

The FIA alleged that the money was actually taken by Moonis Elahi. As per FIA report, Malik had stated that he had opened an account on the instruction of Moonis and an amount of Rs.220 million was allegedly transferred in that account. Later, Malik was resiled from his statement. Eight prosecution witnesses while recoding their statements before a magisterial court also denied recording any statement as witness to the FIA. 

Punjab is confronted with this current tragic fate because of a polygamous ruler’s mismanagement and incompetence: Moonis Elahi

Punjab Assembly Budget 2011-12 

Speech of Mr. Moonis Elahi

(Since I have been unjustifiably refused my fundamental right as an elected public representative by none less than the House Custodian himself, I deem it necessary to present my views, analyses and observations to you on this year’s Punjab Budget in writing.  I am exercising my democratic right to opinion, refused otherwise through the following lines. Moonis Elahi)

As a member of the Punjab Provincial Assembly and being a representative of the people who had elected me to this august house in 2008, it was my constitutional right and privilege to have been allowed to participate in the Punjab Assembly, 2011-12 Budget Session. The Hon. Speaker’s “NO” for “unknown reasons”, to the point of order raised by Ch. Zaheer ud Din on June 10, 2011, urging him to issue my production orders for the ongoing budget session, denied me that fundamental constitutional right. This denial was a blunt refusal to honour the mandate of the electorate who had chosen me to fight for their rights in the assembly. It was also a denial to democracy to flourish at a forum solely meant to uphold, protect and respect the Will and the Voice of the People. Despite the support of the house and the already existing precedents, the Hon. Speaker by ceding his role as the Custodian of the House may have pleased “someone” but even from a lay man’s point of view, has set in motion a highly unhealthy tradition of negative partisanship and obvious partiality. Also goes without saying that in future whenever replicated the historians will be obliged to put the brunt of this unhealthy tradition’s blame on the present Hon. Speaker of the Punjab Assembly.

It is a widely acknowledged fact that the province of Punjab just four years back was a text book example of how a government and a people could come together to bring about an era of unprecedented progress and change. The provincial GDP was well above 8% and 1.4 million new jobs were coming up in the job market every year. During this time, under Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi’s watchful and welfare oriented administration all sections of the society including farmers, workers, masons, clerks, teachers, doctors, businessmen, minorities etc; were prospering. On the contrary, just four years later all the good work of the Pakistan Muslim League government done till 2007 seems like a distant dream. The people of Punjab are now witnessing an era of unprecedented poverty, deprivation and injustice instead. Today, Punjab’s self-styled Khadim e Ala has turned the province into a laboratory of his ill-conceived experiments that have repeatedly borne disastrous results, but to no avail. In the last four years the once economically surplus Punjab has become an epitome of financial mismanagement. In the name of dubious and short lived schemes like Sasti Roti, Ashyana, Danish Schools and now the reincarnated Yellow Cab Scheme the present rulers of Punjab have skimmed and squandered billions.

Let us first take a critical look at the self-styled Khadim e Ala’s “Bucchat” i.e. savings initiatives. The last three provincial budgets bear testimony to the fact that every year the chief minister has been expending public money way beyond the prescribed limits. The Chief Minister House budget for the past financial year was put at Rs 260 million but by the year’s end an additional amount of Rs. 60 million was spent. The chief minister and his honourable brother are known for doling out public funds and assets as gifts to their favourites. In the past financial year this “glorious” tradition continued and the chief minister gave away gifts worth a generous sum of Rs. 22.5 million out of the government kitty to God knows who. The transport allocation for the chief minister was of Rs. 4 million but here too we see Rs. 20.5 million of public money being spent. Similarly the chief minister could use up to Rs. 30 million as discretionary funds in the last financial plan but instead we see Rs 60 million being indiscreetly blown away in the name of discretionary funds.

The chief minister Punjab is maintaining at government expense two official secretariats and 5 camp offices which are actually his personal residences. Appreciating the fact that the chief minister has to look after a continuously growing number of spouses, it will not be out of place to ask him to look after his sweet hearts from his personal wealth rather than from the already depleted resources of the heart-broken and poor Punjabis.

This year’s Punjab Budget is an outcome of a mindset bent upon brutally ripping the last shreds of flesh from an animal’s carcass. Show no mercy and have no mercy on the poor is what this budget is all about. I wish to draw your attention to the block allocations mentioned in the budget. An enormous sum of Rs. 33 billion has been allocated to roads, water supply and sanitation, higher education, health, transport and planning and development projects. But my question is, whither the projects? As against these allocations not a single individual project has been ascribed.  It seems an obvious conclusion that among other robberies a Rs. 33 billion heist has also been planned through these block allocations. Allow me to call these block allocations as “Black Allocations” instead as they are surreptitiously meant to give the self-styled khadim e Ala a free hand in squandering huge government funds for furthering his vested personal and political aims.

How can one forget the Punjab chief minister’s pronouncement of breaking the begging bowl and not accepting international help? Ironically, he made this announcement just 24 days before this year’s budget. And look at the shameful turn around, as the budget figures show that this year Punjab will receive Rs. 20 billion in the form of international assistance. Why did the chief minister make an announcement and then go back on it? So much for honouring what you profess!

The Sasti Roti Scam is arguably the most thought out rip-off, of the people of Punjab in recent times. According to authentic sources a sum of Rs. 14.5 billion was systematically looted in this scam. In this year’s budget although no amount has been allocated to this disastrous scheme but ironically an amount of Rs 12 million has been allocated to the Sasti Roti Authority. This is a blatant example of nepotism and corruption where the rulers seem to be rewarding their favourites without taking into account their own dismal failures. The poor are getting poorer but the rulers unbothered are continuing with their loot and plunder.

According to the Auditor General’s report a huge amount of Rs. 40 billion is unaccounted for in the Punjab government accounts. Where has this money gone? This is a question that will be thoroughly investigated once the present rulers are voted out by the people.

The inconsistent and temperamental policies of the present Punjab government have turned the province into a waste land and a laboratory of failed experiments. It will be most appropriate to advise the chief minister and his respected elder brother to in future kindly restrict these flop experiments to their own Jaati Umra Palace and keep the poor people of the province out of them.

The Punjab treasury is empty yet the rulers’ greed and avarice know no bounds. Take the example of the reincarnation of the fraudulent Yellow Cab scheme in this year’s Punjab Budget. Who can forget that the last time this dubious scheme was unveiled it resulted in a complete collapse of two banks and a partial melt down of five other banks. This budget round, a huge sum of Rs. 4.5 billion has been again allocated to the yellow cab scheme. According to sources, Mr. Ishaq Dar has already inked a deal with a French automobiles manufacturer and a huge chunk of the allocated funds for this scheme will go down the deep pockets of “you know who”. Yellow Cabs Part 2 will be another scandal worth public accountability in the days to come.

In the face of rampant youth unemployment the need of the hour was to lift ban on government jobs and create well thought out youth self-employment schemes. But the current Punjab rulers instead of living up to this dire need have announced another fraudulent scheme in the budget which on the face of it will be meant to give Rs. 20,000 as financial assistance to the “deserving” youth but in actuality will be meant to espouse nepotism and corruption. Pray! Let me know that in today’s day and age what kind of business can one start with such a paltry “financial assistance”? That a government which in the last three years has not paid a penny of zakat to the deserving now with elections around the corner is bent upon extorting the public rupee for vested personal and political gains is but obvious here.

The Local Governments had become the agents of progress in the past. The present Punjab dispensation on the one hand has been delaying holding of LG elections and on the other it has allocated a staggering sum of Rs. 148 billion in this year’s budget for local governments. The obvious conclusion in this regard is again that the present Punjab rulers hell bent on looting and robbing the poor and the deprived will siphon this money through their self-appointed administrators. It is but evident that the reins of these funds will be in the hands of the chief minister and his band of forty thieves.

The last three provincial budgets have proven to be a nightmare for the people of South Punjab. They have been deprived of their rightful share in the provincial resources and left out of development plans. The truth is that there are still over twenty thousand floods devastated families living in South Punjab who still have not received the long awaited first tranche of Rs. 20,000 for reconstructing their lives. They talk of a dubious Ashyana Housing scheme while thousands of South Punjab families who lost everything in floods are still living without a roof over their heads and awaiting the arrival of the much trumpeted help. This year’s announcement of Rs.72 billion for South Punjab will prove to be yet another false promise like this government’s previous announcements for South Punjab.

 On the one side, Punjab’s 63,000 plus government schools have not sighted any support in the past three budgets and on the other side their rightful share in the education budget is being vandalized in the name of the dubious Danish Schools scheme. The sel-proclaimed khadim e Ala blinded by corruption and self-glorification has brought the province’s educational growth to a grinding halt. The living proof of which is that Punjab’s literacy rate which was above 62% just four years back has now plummeted to less than 50%.

The provincial health sector is no exception to the rule. The last three years have been an unmitigated night mare for government hospitals their managements, doctors, nurses, paramedics and most of all for the poor patients. The free health care system for the sick and the needy provided by Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi’s government is now a thing of the past. The present government’s mishandling of the provincial health system has given birth to numerous issues and the sufferings of the ailing public have increased tremendously. Free medicines routinely available in government hospitals four years back are now no longer available. The disgruntlement of the medical community including doctors, nurses and paramedics is also at an unprecedented high. And lo and behold, the Punjab rulers instead of listening to this most vital community’s grievances preferred to beat them on roads and put them behind bars. What a shameful way to run the health system of a province of over 80 million people!

Look at the Punjab government’s callousness towards people’s right to Access of Justice. Is it not shameful that not a penny has been allocated to this vital protection of the people against the high handedness of the powerful? Is the law and order situation now so ideal in Punjab that the people have no need for such initiatives?

At the end, I will like to draw your attention towards the incumbent Punjab government’s dismal performance in utilisation of the last three year’s Annual Development Programmes’ budgets and its poor revenue collection performance. The irony is that while there is a 100% increase in the chief minister’s budget, a 50% decline in the ADP spending has been witnessed in the last three years. Similarly there is also an approximate 40% drop in the provincial revenue receipts of the last three years. I ask that with what cheek this government can claim to better the lives of the Punjabis this year when it has done everything to ruin them in the previous three years. Allow me to say that Punjab is confronted with this current tragic fate because of a polygamous ruler’s mismanagement and incompetence. At the end of the speech the Speaker accepted to make Moonis Elahi’s views on Punjab budget as part of the assembly record.

Prosecution witnesses deny Moonis Elahi's accounts

Lahore (16-06-2011) The four prosecution witnesses named in the NICL case against senior Pakistan Muslim League leader Moonis Elahi have today completely rejected the FIA version. Testifying before the special judge Banking Court in Lahore the witnesses have denied opening of any bank account by Moonis Elahi’s manager Mohammad Maalik and have informed the learned court that the accounts in question were personally opened and operated by two individuals namely Adil Manzur and Khadim Rasul.

Earlier when Moonis Elahi was brought to the court amid tight security he was welcomed by a large number of party leaders and workers. Before the start of the proceedings Moonis Elahi addressed the Banking Court judge Abdul Rasheed and expressed his complete faith in the impartiality of the judiciary.

In today’s proceedings, statements of four prosecution witnesses belonging to Allied Bank were recorded. They included three Allied Bank airport branch employees Omar Farooq Dhami(officer), Nadia Faisal (Manager Customer Services), Shaukat Hussain (Rider)  and Mohammad Atif Saleem (Manager Customer Services)working at Allied Bank, Multan Road branch. Mohammad Atif Saleem in his statement before the learned judge testified that the FIA officials threatened him of dire consequences and coerced him into signing on a blank page which was against banking rules. He stated that Khadim Rasul had opened the account at his branch and was solely operating it. He informed the court that he had visited the FIA office a few times but had never recorded any statement with them. Omar Dhami in his statement testified that the FIA authorities had required him to provide the relevant bank record which he complied but at no point had he recorded his statement with the FIA. He testified that the FIA officials forced him to sign on a blank page and he was not aware of the contents of the statement later attributed to him by the FIA officials. Nadia Faisal in her statement apprized the court that one Adil Manzur had approached the bank for opening an account and the said account was opened after verifying his national identity card from NADRA. The third prosecution witness, Shaukat Hussain testified before the court that he had seen Adil Manzur opening the bank account and was not aware of anything else. The court was reconvened at 3 pm on the insistence of Moonis Elahi’s counsels where the statements of the fourth prosecution witness, Mohammad Atif Saleem along with the FIA investigation officer were recorded. The court was later adjourned till June 22.

Later talking to the media, Moonis Elahi’s counsel Rai Bashir Ahmad said that four out of five prosecution witnesses had refuted the statements attributed to them by the FIA officials against Moonis Elahi and the prosecution had failed to obtain anything against Moonis Elahi from them. He said that the prosecution witnesses had repeated the statements which they had earlier recorded with a magistrate where they had said that the accounts were personally opened and operated by Adil Manzur and Khadim Rasul. 

Court Frame charges against Moonis Elahi

The Special Banking Offences Court frame charges against Moonis Elahi, a PML-Quaid leader accused of involvement in the National Insurance Company Limited (NICL) scam case of 32 crore here on Saturday.

The advocates, including Amjad Pervaiz and Misbah Ur Rehman, appeared before the court as Moonis’ counsel. Moonis lawyers asked to cite verdicts to get witness statement copies but court rejects their plea.

The court summoned the witnesses on June 16. The judge said that the case would be decided in accordance with the law and constitution.

Moonis has been accused of having involvement in a transaction of Rs 220 million with Mohsin Habib Warraich, the main accused in the Rs 3.3 billion NICL scam.
Earlier, the lawyers pleaded that the challan of the case was incomplete as they had not been given the statements made by witnesses against Moonis.

Moonis Elahi's Lawyers asked to cite verdicts to get witness statement copies

Lahore (10-06-2011) The Banking Court in Lahore has adjourned the NICL case hearing against Moonis Elahi, senior leader Pakistan Muslim League, till tomorrow. During today’s proceedings, Moonis Elahi’s lawyers requested the court to provide them with copies of the prosecution witnesses’ statements recorded under Section 164. They were of the view that it was their right to obtain the copies of witnesses’ statements but the court for reasons not known to them was not heeding their request. Moonis Elahi’s lawyers said that the case against their client was a pack of lies devoid of evidence and reason. They accused the FIA of willfully stretching the case to prolong Moonis Elahi’s incarceration period. The Banking Court Judge, Mr. Justice Abdul Rasheed responding to their observations offered Moonis Elahi’s lawyers to get the case transferred to another court remarking that he was not very fond of hearing the NICL case. Moonis Elahi’s lawyers while expressing their confidence in the learned judge said that if he himself was not interested in hearing the case then it was another matter. 

Moonis Elahi’s lawyers included Amjad Pervez, Rai Bashir Ahmad and Misbah ur Rahman advocates. Earlier on arrival at the court, Moonis Elahi briefly speaking to the media said that he returned to Pakistan at his own accord and because he had complete faith in the independence and fairness of the country’s judiciary. Moonis Elahi’s lawyers talking to the media after the court adjournment said that according to clause 241/A of the Constitution of Pakistan, the court was responsible for providing copies of the trial related documents but in this case the court was prolonging things for unknown reasons and today the whole time was spent on arguing whether or not Moonis Elahi could be provided copies of witnesses’ statements recorded under Section 164.

Production orders for Moonis Elahi sough

LAHORE - PML-Q has asked Punjab Assembly Speaker to issue production orders of Moonis Elahi for taking part in the budget session. 
Chaudhry Zaheer-ud-Din, PML-Q parliamentary party leader in Punjab Assembly, through a letter on Tuesday asked the Speaker to issue production orders of Moonis Elahi following the rules of business of the Punjab Assembly, while Moonis has the privilege to participate in the assembly proceedings. He said that the presence of Moonis in the budget session was of paramount importance as an elected member of the House. 
Meanwhile, PML-Q leader condemning provincial government for rolling back Punjab government’s security from PML-Q chief Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain and senior federal minister Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi warned that provincial government would be responsible for any untoward incident. 
He demanded of the Punjab CM to present the report of investigation commission formed sometime back regarding the flood devastating floods in Southern Punjab last year to overcome our s0hortcomings to counter the natural calamities in a better way. 
Zaheer said that ‘Q’ would devise its budget session’s strategy after consulting with senior leadership, however they would follow the conduct of ‘N’ during the budget at the Parliament. He observed that ‘N’ wanted to grab every position without having majority.

Till today, copies of the challan and statements of witnesses had not been delivered to Moonis Elahi’s counsels.

Lahore (May 31, 2011) The Banking Court today adjourned the NICL case hearing with Senior Pakistan Muslim League Leader Moonis Elahi as a defendant till June-10 without any proceedings. Moonis Elahi was brought to the court in an armoured vehicle and heavy security arrangements were in place both outside and inside the court room. A large number of Pakistan Muslim League workers had assembled outside the banking court in the sweltering summer heat to catch a glimpse of their beloved leader. On his arrival, they chanted slogans highlighting Moonis Elahi’s innocence and condemning the elements behind the false case against their leaders. Later talking to the media, Moonis Elahi’s counsel said that the court could not convene today because of some other binding’s legal engagements of the honourable judge. 

A rally was organized to express solidarity with Moonis Elahi

Lahore (02-06-2011) A large number of Pakistan Muslim League Youth Wing Punjab members belonging to all the provincial district head quarters gathered in Lahore today to stage a peaceful protest rally from PML House Lahore to Lahore Press Club. The rally was organized to express solidarity with Moonis Elahi senior Pakistan Muslim League Leader. 

The rally participant were carrying banners and ply cards highlighting Moonis Elahi’s innocence and against his political victimization. Later President PML Youth Wing Punjab Zahid Iqbal Chaudhry addressed the rally outside the Lahore Press Club. 


In his speech Zahid Iqbal Chaudhry condemned the unfair and prejudicial conduct of the FIA and its deliberate attempts at framing Moonis Elahi in a false case. The PML Youth Wing President said that keeping Moonis Elahi under detention despite the prosecution witnesses’ denial of making any statement against him was a clear evidence of political victimization. The rally was also participated by Ahmad Faran Khan, Bilal Mustafa Sherazi, Ahmad Nadeem Gujjar, Sajjad Khan Khichi, Mian Azhar Shaukat, Nadeem Zulfiqar, Shahid Jutt, Mumtaz Yousuf, Zulfiqar Yaseen, Mian Usman, Tahir Ansari, Ateeq Rizwan, Asad Riaz Baloch, Rai Ashfaq Kharral, Tariq Majeed, Ch. Usman Gujjar and others.

We never recorded any statement with the FIA (8 Moonis Elahi case prosecution witnesses tell the Court)

May 25, 2011 (Lahore)

The Banking Court while adjourning the hearing of Pakistan Muslim League Central Leader Moonis Elahi’s case until May 31 has directed the FIA authorities to provide Moonis Elahi’s counsel with copies of statements recorded in the case under Sections 161 and 164.  During today’s hearing, Moonis Elahi’s counsel took the plea that the FIA was bound to provide the accused with copies of all statements recorded in the case under Sections 161 and 164. He demanded copies of statements of the 8 prosecution witnesses recorded under oath where they had unanimously stated that at no point did they record their statements with the FIA.  The Court was adjourned after the FIA officials requested for some time in order to arrange the required copies.  

According to Moonis Elahi’s lawyer, Amjad Pervaiz the 8 prosecution witnesses had appeared in person before a Magistrate and stated under oath that the FIA had pressurised them to sign on blank pages and stamp papers and they had at no point recorded their statements with the FIA.  Quoting the witnesses, Moonis Elahi’s defence counsel further said that in their statements the witnesses had named Adil Manzoor and Khadim Rasool as two individuals who had personally visited the bank for account opening, cheque book receiving and money withdrawal and neither Moonis Elahi nor any other person known to him ever came in touch with them.  Advocate Amjad Pervaiz said that the baseless and false allegations against Moonis Elahi now stood fully exposed. 

Moonis Elahi not getting entitled legal relief: S.M. Zaffar

Courts independent in meting out justice uninfluenced by NICL case hearing in the SC: (Supreme Court)

(Islamabad, May 21, 2011) The 3 member Supreme Court bench headed by the Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry has observed that courts where Moonis Elahi case is being heard are entirely independent to proceed with the matter in accordance with law and without being influenced in any manner from the NICL case proceedings in the Supreme Court.

The Supreme Court bench comprising Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, Mr. Justice Muhammad Sair Ali and Mr. Justice Ghulam Rabbani passed this order in response to the petition filed by President Pakistan Muslim League, Senator Chaudhry Shujat Hussain.  Mr. S.M. Zafar, Mr. Waseem Sajjad and Dr. Khalid Ranjha appeared in the case as his legal counsels.

Mr. S.M. Zafar as the senior counsel stated that on account of the pendency of the matter before the Supreme Court, Moonis Elahi was not getting the legal relief he was entitled for.

The learned bench of the Supreme Court in its written order observed that notwithstanding any controversy with regards to the interim or final status of the challan, the learned courts hearing the matter were entirely independent in their proceedings. The learned bench further observed that if the legal relief was sought for, during hearing, learned counsel appearing on behalf of the petitioner would be free to raise any argument available including that the amount had been recovered or not.

Moonis Elahi transfer in Rest House

Pakistan News: Moonis Elahi transfer in Rest House > PML-Q Leader Moonis Elahi was transferred in rest house due to some health problem of Moonis Elahi.
According to Source, The FIA requested to the transfer of Pakistan Muslim League Quaid leader Moonis Elahi to a rest house on Zarar Shaheed road on Friday. Moonis Elahi was shifted to the approval of the Punjab Government.
Pakistan Muslim League Quaid Leader Moonis Elahi, who was in the case of National Insurance Company Limited (NICL) scam case. Lahore high Court sent him 14 days physical remand.

We have no role in Zafar Qureshi's transfer: Ch. Shujaat Hussan

FIA has no evidence against Moonis and he was implicated in the scam purely on political grounds

LAHORE

THE Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), Punjab, on Tuesday once again failed to submit a challan against PML-Q leader Moonis Elahi, son of former Chief Minister Parvaiz Elahi, allegedly involved in the National Insurance Corporation Limited (NICL) land scam. 

On Tuesday, Moonis was produced before Special Judge (banking offences) Abdul Rasheed amid tight security from the sub-jail of NADRA Rest House. 

The FIA officials once again sought further time for the submission of the complete challan against Moonis. On this, the court has directed the FIA to submit a complete challan on the next hearing, to be held on May 12. 

The court in its orders has also mentioned that if the FIA failed to submit a challan on the next hearing, the court will start trial on the available documents and will not allow the FIA further time for submission of the challan. Previously, the court had rejected the bail application of Moonis. 

Counsel of Moonis is of the view that the FIA has no evidence against Moonis and he was implicated in the scam purely on political grounds. He said Moonis had nothing to do with the scam, as all the cases were lodged against the family of Mohsin Habib warriach. He pointed out that alleged looted money had already been returned to the NICL. Counsel reiterated that Mohsin Warriach had submitted all the embezzled amount of Rs. 1.68 billion to Secretary Commerce. As the whole amount mentioned in FIR 24/10 has been returned then to involve his client in the scam is an illegal act. 

Moonis Elahi's case adjourned till May 3

LAHORE: The Banking Court on Tuesday adjourned the hearing of Moonis Elahi’s case till May 3.

FIA failed to present the challan and requested the court to give ten days to present the complete challan (subpoena), hence, the court adjourned the case's hearing till May 3.

Talking to the media outside the court, Moonis Elahi said the impression of him being saved from the federal government was wrong. He expressed his hopes regarding the court’s decision.

Lahore High Court seeks Moonis Elahi case record from FIA.

SPECIAL Judge (banking offences) Abdul Rasheed on Monday issued notice to FIA Punjab for April 25 on a bail petition moved by PML-Q leader Moonis Elahi allegedly involved in the National Insurance Corporation Limited (NICL) land scam.

On Monday, Muhammad Iqbal Bhatti, counsel for Moonis, filed post-arrest bail application in the court. He contended that the FIA had no evidence against Moonis and he was implicated in the scam purely on political grounds. He said Moonis had nothing to do with the scam as all the cases were lodged against the family of Mohsin Habib Warriach. He pointed out that looted money had already been returned to the NICL and requested the court to release Moonis on bail. At this, the court summoned record of the case from the FIA Punjab on April 25.

NICL Scam: Zafar Ahmed Qureshi removed from the post of Additional Director-General of the FIA

ISLAMABAD: A spokesperson of the Ministry of Interior has said that National Police Foundation Managing Director, Zafar Qureshi, has been relieved from his additional assignment in the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA). 

The spokesperson said that in compliance with the orders of the Supreme Court, Zafar Qureshi, an Officer of Police Group, was deputed to investigate certain cases pending inquiry in FIA. On completion of his additional assignment in FIA, the agency Director General, Malik Muhammad Iqbal has requested the interior secretary to relieve him from his additional responsibilities.

Zafar Qureshi had completed the investigations of the cases assigned to him and has submitted the reports for onward transmission to the court.

Supreme Court admits Ch. Shujaat Hussain, Moonis Elahi's pleas for Zafar Qureshi's removal

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court on Thursday admitted for hearing three applications moved by PML-Q President Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain and Chaudhry Moonis Elahi, says a press release issued by the PML-Q on Thursday.

The applications seek court orders to remove FIA additional director general Zafar Qureshi from the National Insurance Company Limited (NICL) scam probe and start an investigation against him.

In the applications, Chaudhry Shujaat and Moonis Elahi say the main accused in the NICL scam, Habibullah Waraich and family, has deposited all required amount to the FIA, but Moonis Elahi, his wife and other family members were being harassed by Zafar Qureshi.

A Supreme Court bench comprising Chief Justice 

Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry, Justice Sair Ali and Justice Ghulam Rabbani directed Zafar Qureshi to submit reply on the application filed by the Chaudhry family, the press release says.

During the proceedings of the case, the chief justice said the Chaudhrys belonged to a respectable family and the investigators should keep this fact in mind while dealing with them. 

The court said any investigation into the bank accounts, which are not linked to transactions vis-a-vis the NICL scam, would be against rules.

Chaudhry Shujaat and Moonis Elahi say Qureshi had levelled baseless allegations against the applicants and had stated that he was facing death threats from the Chaudhrys. 

Senator Wasim Sajjad, the counsel for Ch Shujaat, told the court during the proceedings that the Waraich family had deposited the entire required amount with the FIA and no amount was liable, but the FIA officials were still harassing Moonis Elahi and his family members.

“Investigation into other accounts of Ch Moonis has been also launched. His accounts have been frozen, while the credit cards of his children are also being sought for investigation purpose that is uncalled for,” he added. He said the Chaudhry family was being targeted on political grounds. A large number of parliamentarians and PML-Q workers were present on the occasion in the courtroom no. 1 of the apex court building. 

Prominent of those were PML-Q Secretary General Mushahid Hussain Sayed, PML-Q parliamentary leader in National Assembly Syed Faisal Saleh Hayat, and others.

Chaudhrys belonged to a respected family: Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry

Islamabad (14-04-2011) The supreme court on Thursday admitted three applications moved by PML President and former prime minister Chaudhry Shujat Hussain and Ch Moonis Elahi in which the court was requested to remove FIA additional director general Zafar Qureshi from the NICL scam investigation and rather an investigation may be started against him. In these applications, it wax prayed that the main accused in the NICL scam, Habibullah Waraich & family, had deposited all the required amount with the FIA but despite the fact of the recovery, Moonis Elahi, his wife and other family members were being harassed by Qureshi while a probe has been launched into the bank accounts of Moonis Elahi which was uncalled for. 

The apex court bench comprising chief justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry, Justice Sair Ali and Justice Ghulam Rabbani directed Zafar Qureshi to submit reply to the application by the Chaudhry family. During the proceedings of the case, the chief justice said that the Chaudhrys belonged to a respected family and the investigators should take care of the fact while dealing with them. The court also said that any investigation into those bank accounts which are not linked to transactions vis-à-vis the NICL would be against rules. In their applications, the Chaudhry family had pleaded that Qureshi had leveled baseless allegations against the applicants and even he had stated that he was facing life threats from the Chauhdrys. It was stated that Chaudhrys belonged to a respectable family and could not even think of any such plan as described by Qureshi. It was prayed that Qureshi’s baseless allegations should be investigated and he should be removed from investigation of the case. Senator Wasim Sajjad, the attorney of Ch Shujat, told the court during the proceedings that the Waraich family had deposited all the required amount with the FIA and no amount was liable but the FIA officials were still harassing Moonis Elahi and his family members. Besides, he added, investigation into other accounts of Ch Moonis was also launched, his accounts have been frozen, while the credit cards of his children are also been sought for investigation purpose which was uncalled for. 

He said the Chaudhrys were basically businessmen and thus it was natural to have heavy amounts in their accounts for business purpose. He said the Chaudhry family was being targeted on political whims which should be stopped. A large number of parliamentarians and PML workers were present on the occasion in the courtroom No.1 of the apex court building. Prominent of those were PML Secretary General Mushahid Hussain Sayed, PML parliamentary Leader in the national assembly Syed Faisal Saleh Hayat, President PML KP Engineer Amir Muqam, MNAs Sh Waqas Akram, Marvi Memon, Prince Nawaz Allai, Pir Aslam Bodla and others.

Punjab government told to beef up security for Moonis Elahi

LAHORE, April 13: The interior ministry has asked the Punjab government to beef up security for PML-Q leader Moonis Elahi owing to threats to his life.

According to an interior ministry’s letter, “credible information has been received that there is a threat to the life of Moonis and extra precautions at the National Database Registration Authority (Nadra) rest house in the Cantonment area may kindly be taken up.

“The security personnel employed there may also be checked.”

The Punjab government has not taken any stringent arrangement for the security of the PML-Q leader despite concerns from the Federal Investigation Agency.

Zafar Qureshi is misusing the name of the Supreme Court in Moonis Elahi's Case

Lahore (13-04-2011) Kamil Ali Agha, central Information secretary of the Pakistan Muslim League has drawn the Supreme Court’s attention towards the acts of a certain FIA official that amount to serious contempt of the apex court. Kamil Ali Agha has also accused this particular official of implicating the women members of a political family in baseless and fabricated cases by using the Supreme Court’s name. The PML Information Secretary has said that after miserably failing to prove Moonis Elahi’s alleged involvement in the NICL case this official has now started victimizing Moonis Elahi’s wife and other female members of his family. According to Kamil Ali Agha, not only has this official investigated the personal accounts of these ladies but has also gone way beyond his limits by being instrumental in freezing Mrs. Moonis Elahi’s personal account especially when Moonis Elahi’s name is not mentioned in the FIR. 

The PML Information Secretary has appealed the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Pakistan Mr. Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry to take notice of this official’s persecution of women and to stop him from misusing the Supreme Court’s name.

Kamil Ali Agha has alleged Zafar Qureshi of misusing the name of the Supreme Court verbally as well as in his official letters so as to influence fellow officers. He has urged the Chief Justice of Pakistan to reprimand Zafar Qureshi and direct the concerned to take measures for undoing these wrongs.

Zafar Qureshi is using his office to carry out a personal agenda of revenge: Kamil Ali Agha

Lahore (12-04-2011) Kamil Ali Agha, Information Secretary of Pakistan Muslim League has said that Additional Director General FIA Zafar Ahmad Qureshi despite all his tactics has failed to find any proof against Moonis Elahi in the 14 day physical remand. He has said that Zafar Ahmad Qureshi despite his machination has also visibly failed in establishing Moonis Elahi’s link in the NICL case. The settlement between NICL and Mohsin Warraich coupled with Mohsin Warraich’s written affidavit clearly stating that Moonis Elahi has no concern in the alleged deal are facts which have frustrated Zafar Qureshi. 

Kamil Ali Agha accused Zafar Qureshi of stooping as low as implicating the women family members of Moonis Elahi to cover up for his own failures. In a press statement issued in Lahore today the PML central information secretary Kamil Ali Agha has accused ADG FIA Zafar Qureshi of unleashing a personal agenda of vengeance against Chaudhry Parvez Elahi and his family. He has said that Zafar Qureshi has opened a front against Chaudhry Parvez Elahi to avenge the denial of perks and privileges to him during the govt. of Chaudhry Parvez Elahi in Punjab. 

Kamil Ali Agha called Zafar Qureshi a puppet playing at somebody else’s behest. He condemned the ADG FIA for using his office to carry out a personal agenda of revenge. He also urged the judiciary to take notice of Zafar Qureshi’s continuous violations of the country’s constitutional and penal courts besides the ethical and moral norms. Kamil Ali Agha accused Zafar Qureshi of employing all below the belt tactics to besmear the Chaudhry Family specially after failing to find them at any fault in the cases he himself has created. In his sheer frustration Zafar Qureshi has now started manufacturing new stories on a regular basis, alleged Kamil Ali Agha.

Zafar Qureshi is using the state machinery to besmear the political image and credibility of the Moonis Elahi

Lahore (11-04-2011)  Kamil Ali Agha, Information Secretary of Pakistan Muslim League and Chaudhry Zaheeruddin PML Parliamentary leader in the Punjab Assembly have unanimously condemned the Additional Director General FIA Zafar Ahmad Qureshi over his latest round of false accusation leveled against Moonis Elahi. They have said that despite all out efforts the FIA has failed to come up with even and iota of proof against Moonis Elahi and yet is continuing with a malicious and baseless media trial against him. 

The two PML leaders have flayed Zafar Ahmad Qureshi for his vindictive, unfair and biased behavior and have accused him of providing the media with false and contrived charges against Moonis Elahi. They have strongly condemned Zafar Qureshi’s latest attempt at implicating the women family members of Moonis Elahi. The two leaders have jointly slated the Additional Director General FIA Zafar Qureshi for abusing the state machinery to besmear the political image and credibility of the Chaudhry family. They have said that the FIA’s malicious and baseless campaign against Moonis Elahi has no credibility in the eyes of the public as well as the courts.

Moonis Elahi shifted to rest house after life threat

Lahore (April 01,2011) At the end of his physical remand, Moonis Elahi, central leader Pakistan Muslim League was sent on a 14 day judicial remand to the Camp Jail, Lahore by the judicial magistrate, Mohammad Irfan Basra. Chanting slogans of Moonis Elahi’s innocence, Asif Bhatti a die-hard supporter of Moonis Elahi tried to commit suicide by jumping from the 2^nd floor of the district courts but was grabbed in time by lawyers and workers present there. 

Moonis Elahi’s lawyer, Iqbal Bhatti told the court that despite keeping Moonis Elahi in custody for 14 days and using all fair and foul tactics in the book the FIA had been unsuccessful in extracting any incriminating evidence or clue against him. He said that this was a clear proof of Moonis Elahi’s innocence and of him being subjected to extreme political victimization. Moonis Elahi was today brought to the district courts 4 hours after the close of courts. He remained in the armored vehicle for 25 minutes after reaching the district courts as the court room was locked and the magistrate had gone home. 

The Pakistan Muslim League workers who had started assembling in the district courts from early morning kept chanting slogans and breast beating against the unfair trial of their leader throughout the day. Many emotional scenes were witnessed at Moonis Elahi’s arrival and the PML workers kept chanting fiery slogans during the court proceedings.