Moonis Elahi leaves for London for condolence on the death of his Father in Law

Moonis Elahi leaves for London

LAHORE.  Moonis Elahi, senior leader of Pakistan Muslim League and son of former Punjab Chief Minister Chaudhry Pervez Elahi, left here on Monday for London alongwith his family. Moonis Elahi was acquitted by a Sessions Court in Lahore a few days ago in the NICL scam case. 

Sources said that he has gone to London on a family visit. It may be recalled that Moonis Elahi was on a visit to London when a case against him was registered about his alleged involvement in NICL case. After the case, he returned from London to face the court proceedings.

Moonis Elahi declared innocent in NICL case

Moonis Elahi’s acquittal reflects freedom of judiciary: Ch Shujat

LAHORE: PML-Q President, Senator Ch Shujat Hussain on Friday said his family had always reposed confidence in the free judiciary and Moonis Elahi’s acquittal was reflective of freedom of judiciary and victory of truth over fiction.

Talking to the jubilant Leaguers and workers on the release of Moonis Elahi at his residence here, he said our heads are bowed before the Almighty Allah on MPA Moonis Elahi’s acquittal, adding that PML-Q was equally thankful to the judiciary.

With reference to free judiciary in the country, Ch Shujat Hussain said Moonis returned to the country fearlessly after he heard of the false cases against him, adding that he had complete faith in the integrity of institutions in the country.

Senior PML-Q leader, Federal Minister Ch Pervaiz Elahi, PML-Q leaders Ch Wajahat Hussain, Ch Shafat Hussain and Rasikh Elahi have thanked the leaguers for their constant support and steadfastness during Moonis Elahi’s trial.

Zafar Qureshi is deliberately obstructing the course of justice to prolong Moonis Elahi’s incarceration. Moonis Elahi’s defence lawyer

Lahore (17 September 2011) District and Sessions Judge Mujahid Mustaqeem as Special Judge Banking Court today on the FIA’s 15 day extension request has adjourned the NICL case hearing till September 26. Moonis Elahi’s lawyer Amjad Parvez opposing the FIA’s 15 day extension request on legal grounds accused the investigation agency of blatantly wasting the court’s time and violating its orders. He further accused the FIA of deliberately obstructing the course of justice to prolong Moonis Elahi’s incarceration. 

Moonis Elahi’s defence lawyer citing examples of the delaying tactics employed by the FIA said that on Zafar Qureshi’s Aug 18 request asking the court for an additional one month for further investigation the court gave him time till September 6, on Sept 6 in response to the FIA’s demand for further time for the appointment of a prosecutor the court allowed the FIA further grace time till September 17 but the FIA had neither appointed a prosecutor and nor had purportedly completed its investigation. 

He said that Zafar Qureshi’s request for a further 15 day extension to present the final challan was illegal as two challans of the same case could not be presented. He demanded the court to order Zafar Qureshi to apprize the court as to why the FIA had failed to appoint a prosecutor and present the final challan thus far. He asked to be informed that if the FIA had still not appointed a prosecutor then who was presenting the interim challan, producing new witnesses and asking the court on Zafar Qureshi’s behalf for further time relaxation. 

He wanted to know the antecedents of the individual presently appearing on behalf of the FIA and if he was not a prosecutor. The court in its decision ordered the FIA to present the final challan and the new prosecutor on September 26 failing which the court ruled that it could call Zafar Qureshi.

Instead of blowing his own horn Shahbaz Sharif should do something concrete for dengue elimination: Moonis Elahi

Lahore (September 8, 2011) Senior leader Pakistan Muslim League Moonis Elahi in a press statement released in Lahore today strongly criticized the Punjab government for the dengue outbreak in the province and especially in the provincial metropolis. He held Shahbaz Sharif personally responsible for the deaths caused due to dengue virus in the province. He accused the Punjab chief minister of being too occupied in blowing his own horn when he should have been actually doing something concrete to eradicate the dengue menace. Historians will remember the self-proclaimed Khadim e Ala as one ranting and raving chief minister of Punjab whose favorite pastime was his own trumpet blowing while the people were left to suffer at the hands of poverty, unemployment, criminal elements and now the dengue mosquito, said Moonis Elahi. 


He called upon Shahbaz Sharif to quit his cheap one man show politics and provide the common man with immediate medical relief against the killer virus at government hospitals including the free supply of platelets and medicines for the distressed. Moonis Elahi stated that Shahbaz Sharif government had billions to spend on Jaati Umra expressway but no money for dengue treatment. Strongly criticizing the sasti roti scam, Ashyana scheme, yellow cab stunt, Moonis Elahi said that Shahbaz government had done nothing for the people except launch bogus schemes and cash upon projects launched by the PML government of Chaudhry Parvez Elahi. He further accused Shahbaz Sharif of missing no opportunity of self praise and projection while in reality he had not even bothered to appoint a full time provincial health minister since 2008. Dengue spread in the previous years should have been enough for the government to get going this year for its eradication but what came out were negligence, incompetency and sheer indifference to public problems in Punjab, stated Moonis Elahi.


He further stated that his party would expose the real faces and actual causes behind the spread of dengue disease in the coming session of the Punjab Assembly. We want to bring the actual culprits responsible for dengue outbreak in Punjab in the dock, Moonis Elahi stated at the conclusion of his statement.

Zafar Qureshi tried to dictate court: Moonis Elahi's counsel

Lahore (September 06, 2011) District & Sessions Judge Mujahid Mustaqim acting in the capacity of Special Judge Banking Court had adjourned the NICL case hearing on the FIA’s request till September 17. Earlier in today’s proceedings Moonis Elahi’s lawyer during his arguments urged the Honourable Court that if the FIA was being unduly facilitated to appoint a new prosecutor and present a new challan then his client should also be given the due relief denied to him thus far. 

He further argued that in Zafar Qureshi’s request to the Honourable Court nowhere had he asked for a full month to complete the investigation. Moonis Elahi’s lawyer strongly objected to the language used by Zafar Qureshi in his letter addressed to the Honourable Court. He said that the tone and tanner of the said letter was such that it seemed Zafar Qureshi was giving orders to the court and doing so was in his jurisdiction. 

He said that according to contents of the said letter the Honourable Court was nothing more than a post office. The Honourable Court reprimanded the FIA officials for continuously changing the agency’s representative in the course of the proceedings. The Honourable Court instructed the FIA to appoint a permanent representative to be present in the proceedings. On the Court’s inquiry that how much more time did the FIA require to complete the investigation, the FIA officials forwarded an application requesting for one month to complete the task.

Later talking to the media, Moonis Elahi’s lawyer Rai Bashir Ahmad accused Zafar Qureshi of taking undue advantages of the importance given to him by Supreme Court. He further accused Zafar Qureshi of leveraging the Supreme Court’s importance to dictate his own orders to the Lower Courts. He alleged Zafar Qureshi of blackmailing the courts and said that this was neither in the judiciary’s interest nor in the interest of the public. He said that Moonis Elahi to express his faith in the country’s law and the judiciary’s capacity to dispense justice had returned voluntarily from England which had no extradition treaty signed with Pakistan. A large number of Pakistan Muslim League’s supporters were present in the court throughout the day’s proceedings where senior leader of Pakistan Muslim League Moonis Elahi was brought in an armored vehicle amid high security.

Moonis Elahi moves Supreme Court for early hearing of review petition

September 5, 2011

Moonis Elahi, senior leader of Pakistan Muslim League and son of senior federal minister Chaudhry Pervez Elahi, on Monday filed an application in the Supreme Court seeking an early hearing of his pending review petition.

He prayed the court to fix his review petition along with his stay application for September 9 to meet the ends of justice. The petitioner contended that if his review petition was not heard along with his stay application at an early date, he would suffer irreparable losses and injury to his person as well as reputation, as the hearing of these matters after completion of wrongful, biased, incorrect and inimical investigation would render the fate of these matters before the court infructuous and thus the ends of justice would be frustrated.

On August 18, Moonis filed a review petition against the Supreme Court’s verdict of August 8 wherein the apex court reassigned the NICL scam investigation to Federal Investigation Agency’s (FIA) Additional Director General Zafar Ahmed Qureshi. On August 8, the Supreme Court had quashed the suspension order of Zafar Qureshi and directed him to resume his task in recovering the looted money. The court had directed Zafar Qureshi to carry out investigation of the case and asked him to complete the investigation of the cases expeditiously. In his review petition on August 18, Moonis contended that the Supreme Court’s decision of reassigning the NICL scam investigation to Zafar Qureshi was made without hearing his contentions, reservations and point of view, which was against the norms of justice. Thus, he had contended that the decision needed to be reviewed in the best interest of justice.

Moonis Elahi challenges Zafar Qureshi’s reposting

ISLAMABAD - Moonis Elahi has challenged the Supreme Court’s decision for reassigning NICL case investigation to Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) officer Zafar Qureshi.

Moonis Elahi, who is a PML-Q leader and son of Ch Pervaiz Elahi, is the main accused in the National Insurance Company Limited (NICL) scam.

On Thursday, he filed the review petition through Babar Awan against the apex court’s decision to repost FIA Additional Director General Zafar Qureshi in the multi-billion rupee scam. The sources told The Nation that former law minister and PPP leader Babar Awan, in his capacity as a counsel of Moonis, would file two more petitions in the Supreme Court in order to prevent Zafar Qureshi from investigating NICL scam.

In his Thursday’s plea he prayed the court to remove Qureshi as head of the investigation team, claiming that Qureshi may not investigate the case impartially because on February 17, 2011 he had filed a written statement at the Supreme Court stating Moonis Elahi was threatening him. Therefore, it was unlikely that Qureshi would conduct an unbiased investigation, he added.

Babar contended that the court had reposted Zafar Qureshi to investigate NICL case without hearing his point of view which was against the interest of the justice and Article 10A of the constitution. He pleaded the court to admit his review petition for hearing his stance. He said his client has expressed confidence in all the members of the investigation team except Qureshi. The counsel also requested that the court should stop the investigation of the case till the decision on review petition.

The court on August 8 had quashed the federal government’s order regarding the suspension of FIA ADG Zafar Qureshi and directed him to resume NICL probe forthwith and complete the inquiry expeditiously.

The hearing of Moonis Elahi’s acquittal petition in the NICL case has been adjourned to 6 September

Lahore (August 18, 2011) The hearing of Moonis Elahi’s acquittal petition in the NICL case has been adjourned to 6 September on the request of Additional Director General FIA Zaffar Qureshi.  Today as soon as the NICL case hearing began in the court of District Judge Mujahid Mustaqeem, FIA’s Zaffar Qureshi moved a written request asking for a one month adjournment.  The learned judge after a short suspension of proceedings accepted Zaffar Qureshi’s request.  On this unexpected decision, Moonis Elahi’s lawyers argued that the adjournment of the acquittal petition was a clear violation of the written order dated 18 May 2011 of a three member Supreme Court Bench headed by Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry according to which the courts were fully independent in trying Moonis Elahi and they were not to be influenced by the trial of the NICL case in the Supreme Court.  The said order was issued on the request that Moonis Elahi was not getting his due legal relief because the NICL case was also being heard in the Supreme Court, further argued Moonis Elahi’s lawyers.

Rai Bashir Ahmed advocate arguing in the court said that in his 40 years of legal experience never before had an investigation officer ordered the court to grant him one month period for investigation.  The investigation officer of the said case is Chaudhry Ashgar who is still to appear in the court, pleaded Moonis Elahi’s lawyer. He further pleaded that Zaffar Qureshi had deliberately misinformed the court about being unable to complete the investigation due to his transfer on April 18, 2011. He argued that Zaffar Qureshi on March 21, 2011 had informed the honourable court of having completed investigations in two cases and of submitting final case challans. He said that the court should take action against Zaffar Qureshi for furnishing false information to the court. Moonis Elahi’s defence lawyer accused the FIA of turning the case into a personal feud after failing to bring up anything against his client. Later talking to the media, Moonis Elahi’s team of defence lawyers said that they would contest today’s decision right up to the Supreme Court. They particularly pointed out at the honourable judge’s unwarranted suspension of today’s court proceedings twice for 10 and 45 minutes respectively and for staying in the retiring room without specifying any reason.

Earlier, Moonis Elahi was brought amid tight security to the court. A large number of PML workers had come to show their solidarity with the incarcerated leader including Abdullah Yousaf Warraich, Aamna Ulfat, Samina Khawar Hayyat, Seemal Kamran, Umer Farooq Dar.

An open letter of Mr. Moonis Elahi, Addressed to All Pakistanis Including the Ideological Workers of Pakistan Muslim League

An open letter of Mr. Moonis Elahi, Senior Central Leader Pakistan Muslim League

Addressed to All Pakistanis Including the Ideological Workers of Pakistan Muslim League (the Party Which Founded Pakistan)

Mian Nawaz Sharif’s statement on the eve of Pakistan’s 65^th Independence Day, pronouncing the Indian gods and culture similar as that of Pakistan is not only a sinister move to undermine the Two Nation theory but also a deliberate attempt at nullifying the sacrifices of countless Muslims for the creation of Pakistan.  It is apparent from his views that the Indian contract for weakening Pakistan’s ideological foundations has been awarded to “Sharif Brothers & Co” who have their head offices located at Jaati Umra of Amritsar, India and their sub-office at Jaati Umra, Raiwind.  

It is a great historical fact and an undeniable reality that Pakistan was created in the name of Islam.  The Muslims of the Sub-continent struggled for independence under the leadership of the Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah to live in a society that believed in one God unlike the Hindus who worshipped several gods and goddesses. “The Muslims are a separate nation from the Hindus. Our religion, history, culture, architecture, ways of living and eating habits are diametrically opposed to them”, said the Quaid.

But today, a Pakistani politician who claims to head a faction of Muslim League (the very party which founded Pakistan) has the audacity to challenge the very ethos of Pakistan. What a shame, and that too at a time when the nation is going through the toughest period in its history.

Ironically, in the same speech delivered before his Indian guests, the self-styled “amir ul momineen” while enumerating the similarities between Muslims of Pakistan and the predominantly Hindu India identified the dish of “potatoes and meat” (aalu gosht) as one great similarity. One does not have words to condemn this most fickle exercise at finding commonalities between the two most diverse faiths and nations. If “aalu gosht” is what MNS considers as a binding force between India and Pakistan then he should have kept in mind that the meat Indians relish the most is that of the innocent Kashmiri Mussalmans.

The founding fathers of Pakistan must be turning in their graves at this most preposterous and horrific statement made by a Pakistani politician.

We, Pakistanis have suffered tremendous political and financial blows at the hands of Sharif Brothers and Co and they have been getting away with them, but this time round it will be unpatriotic to let them go Scot free. It is now time to put Nawaz Sharif in the dock and the charge should be of staging treason against the Ideology of Pakistan and hatching a conspiracy against the people of Pakistan. I will end my statement with words of a senior Pakistani journalist known for his patriotic views who said “if Nawaz Sharif has such soft corner for Hindus then he should shift his Jaati Umra residence to Amritsar”. 

An open letter of Mr. Moonis Elahi, Addressed to All Pakistanis including the Ideological Workers of Pakistan Muslim League

Moonis Elahi case adjourned until August 18

LAHORE : August 16

HEARING of the National Insurance Corporation Limited (NICL) scam against Moonis Elahi and others has been adjourned until August 18 as the judge concerned, Mujahid Mustaqeem, is on leave. On Tuesday, counsel for the Federal Investigating Agency (FIA) had to record arguments before District and Sessions Judge Mujahid Mustaqeem on an application filed by Moonis Elahi, seeking his acquittal in the case under 265-K of CrPC.

NICL scam: Moonis Elahi's case adjourned till 16th August

LAHORE: District and Sessions Judge Mujahid Mustaqeem adjourned till August 16, the hearing NICL land scam case of Chaudhary Moonis Elahi as his counsel completed arguments on acquittal application of FIR no 46/10 on Saturday.Appearing before the court Advocate Amjad Pervaiz the counsel of Chaudhary Moonis Elahi accused of National Insurance Company Limited land scam argued and tried to prove that Moonis Elahi the son of former Chief Minister Punjab Chaudhary Parvaiz Elahi had nothing to do with the land scam of NICL.He argued that all the witnesses of the case who had recorded their statements against Ch. Moonis had denied any sort of involvement of Moonis Elahi in above said scam. He argued that the letter written by Deputy Director FIA to the director FIA about any role of Chaudhary Moonis Elahi in the scam revealed that Moonis was not involve in it. Pervaiz Said repeated all the arguments put in front of special magistrate of banking court Malik Abudur Rasheed.

He said that the statements recorded under section 161 of Penal code could not prove allegations leveled against Moonis as they all refused to say anything which could identify implication of Moonis in land scam of NICL.‘Total amount was paid back to NICL’ he said, adding that ‘admittedly there is no allegations neither I nor my family gave him instruction to transfer said money and admittedly at the time of occurrence of NICL scam neither I nor my family held the portfolio in the management of NICL’. 

He further said that the statements of PW4 in case and IO of the scam had so much significance which showed that the case against Moonis was case of no evidence.A number of people including lawyers, media men and supporters of PML-Q leader Chaudhary Moonis Elahi were present in the court. Proceeding started at 12:20 pm and continued for almost two hours. Amjad Pervaiz, the counsel of Chaudhary Moonis Elahi fought well and put every thing related and to the point about the case to prove that his client was not involved in it but FIA got him involved on malafied intentions.

He completed his arguments on the case based on FIR number 46/10.The Judge adjourned the hearing till August 16 and FIA officials would appear and argue on the case.

Hearing of Moonis Elahi's case adjourned till August 13.

Lahore (11 August 2011) District and Sessions Judge Lahore, Mujahid Mustaqeem has adjourned the hearing of Senior Pakistan Muslim League Leader Moonis Elahi’s acquittal petition in the NICL case to August 13. Earlier Moonis Elahi was brought to the court today in an armored vehicle and amid tight security. When Moonis Elahi stepped out of the vehicle he was greeted by a large gathering of PML workers who were chanting slogans highlighted their young leader’s innocence and courage. Moonis Elahi waved back to the crowd with a victory sign.

At the start of the proceedings Moonis Elahi’s lawyers Rai Bashir Ahmad, Amjad Parvez and Misbah-ur-Rehman Advocates presented the case details to the honourable court. On Moonis Elahi’s acquittal petition filed u/s 249-A, his defence lawyer said that the conspiracy hatched by the FIA to implicate Moonis Elahi in the NICL case had failed miserably.

They said that Moonis Elahi’s name was not in the FIR the prosecution witnesses by testifying to his innocence had also busted the FIA plot. They said that the investigation officer, deputy director FIA Basharat Shahazad had also stated the court that Moonis Elahi had no link with the NICL case. On these grounds the defence lawyers of Moonis Elahi asked the honourable court to accept the acquittal petition of their client. Commenting on the request the honourable court said that the matter would be considered in the next hearing. Later talking to the media Moonis Elahi’s lawyer Rai Bashir Ahmad informed that the acquittal petition could not be discussed today as the Honourable Judge had to attend another important meeting. We want the court to convene a daily hearing of the case and decide according to prescribed law, said Moonis Elahi’s defence lawyer.

An Open Letter by Moonis Elahi

An Open Letter by Moonis Elahi

Addressed to the President, Prime Minister, Parliamentarians, National Newspapers and Tv Channels in Response to Rehman Malik’s Tableeghi Jamaat Comments

Lahore (30 July 2011) Moonis Elahi the incarcerated central leader of Pakistan Muslim League has sent a strong worded message to the president, prime minister, parliamentarians, editors and bosses of national dailies and television channels in condemnation of the recently made insinuating remarks of Federal Interior Minister, Mr. Rehman Malik about Tableeghi Jamaat -a trans-national Islamic spiritual reformation movement. The following is the full text of his letter:

Dear Sir/s

I did not feel as much perturbed on being framed in a false case as I felt after hearing the Federal Interior Minister, Mr. Rehman Malik’s poisonous comments on the role of Tableeghi Jamaat, made recently in London. Although, this is not the first time that Mr. Malik has come in the lime light for his ‘loose talk’ but this time his comments have not only caused great pain to the Muslims of Pakistan but have also proven to be a source of bitter anguish for the global Muslim community at large. As a Muslim, I feel that it is my religious right and obligation to respond to Mr. Malik’s sullied and irresponsible comments before somebody out of his mind starts taking such nonsensical comments seriously.

As we all know that Tableeghi Jamaat is a trans-national religious movement which primarily aims at Islamic spiritual reformation by working at the grass roots, reaching out to Muslims across all social and economic spectra. This movement has promoted peace and harmony across the world and has always condemned evils like terrorism and sectarianism in unequivocal terms. It is a fact known to everyone that despite holding the second largest congregation of Muslims in the world after Hajj one cannot find a single incident where any of the organizers or participants has ever been allowed to bring fire arms at the congregation venue. It is also an acknowledged fact that millions of Tableeghi Jamaat members have travelled the world far and wide and never has any foreign government or an important foreign dignitary ever held their activities questionable. Even after the 9/11 debacle in the aftermath of which names of many extremist individuals and outfits came to the fore at no occasion was Tableeghi Jamaat branded among them.

Contd. on Page 2

I have no hesitation in saying that Mr. Rehman Malik’s comments have not only hurt the sentiments of the Muslims of Pakistan but have also rendered an irreparable blow to the country’s reputation abroad. If by associating the despicable terms of ‘terrorism and brainwashing’ with a peaceful Islamic movement like Tableeghi Jamaat, Mr. Malik’s intent was to please any worldly power then he should know that casting such aspersions mean nothing to those who place Allah Above All.

I appeal the Honorable President and Prime Minister of the Islamic Democratic Republic of Pakistan to immediately take serious notice of the Federal Interior Minister’s irresponsible remarks. I also appeal the two Excellencies to contemplate promulgation of immediate steps to prevent repetition of such unfortunate incidents in future. And last but not least, I also appeal to the country’s high-ups to particularly ‘Control’ Mr. Rehman Malik from hurting the nation’s sentiments and from repeatedly embarrassing the country and in this particular case the Muslim Ummah by his reckless and irresponsible statements.

Humbly Yours,

Moonis Elahi

Jawed Iqbal Cartoonist Predication about Moonis Elahi

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.

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.