Court reserves verdict on Parvez Elahi's permanent attendance exemption request
Pakistan
Elahi had applied permanent exemption from attendance
LAHORE (Dunya News) - An accountability court on Thursday reserved its decision on the request for permanent exemption from attendance filed by former Punjab chief minister Chaudhry Parvez Elahi in the corruption and kickbacks case.
Judge Zubair Shahzad Kiyani heard the reference against Elahi and others. The former chief minister, however, did not appear before the court today, after which the court approved his request for a one-day attendance exemption.
Elahi had also filed a request for permanent exemption from attendance, upon which the parties involved presented their arguments. The defense lawyers contended that Parvez Elahi is suffering from illness, with his doctor advising strict bed rest.
On the other hand, NAB Prosecutor Waris Ali Janjua argued that the appointment of a pleader for Elahi could only be made once he is present. He pointed out that Mr Elahi had previously appeared before the court and should be summoned again.
A similar one-day attendance exemption request was also filed by former Principal Secretary of the Punjab Assembly, Muhammad Khan Bhatti.
NAB's witness, Deputy Secretary of Local Government Amjad Ali, recorded his statement, stating that he had submitted the record of the development schemes in court. He further testified that the approval for the Gujrat development projects was given by the Punjab Assembly and the provincial cabinet.
The accountability court adjourned the hearing of the reference against former CM Elahi and others until February 27.
