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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.  

Remand of Moonis Elahi extended for three days

Lahore (March 21, 2011) Moonis Elahi the senior central leader of the Pakistan Muslim League on the FIA’s request was granted another three day remand by the Judicial Magistrate in Lahore today. His defence lawyer said that in the absence of any proof or testimony against Moonis Elahi the FIA had detained him purely on vindictive and prejudicial grounds. Earlier when Moonis Elahi was brought to the court a large number of the Pakistan Muslim League leaders and workers welcomed him with flower petals and garlands. When a highly confident Moonis Elahi stepped out of the police van the PML workers chanted various slogans including “chief minister Moonis Elahi we are with you”.

During the hearing Moonis Elahi’s lawyer, Mohammad Iqbal Bhatti strongly opposed the request for further remand of his client and accused the FIA Additional Director General, Zafar Qureshi of falsely implicating Moonis Elahi in the NICL case on account of his personal prejudice and enmity. He drew the court’s attention to the fact that when Moonis Elahi was abroad he was summoned to appear as a witness on January 27, 2011 and when his lawyer informed that his client would be returning home in a week’s time to record his statement strangely and without any tangible reason Moonis Elahi’s arrest warrants were issued and he was declared an absconder. He said that the FIA tried its level best to prevent Moonis Elahi’s return to the country and when after being bailed by the Sind High Court Moonis Elahi appeared several times to record his statement the FIA officials turned a deaf ear to his requests. Moonis Elahi’s lawyer accused the FIA of misguiding the court. He said that there was no reason to award Moonis Elahi a further remand as he was ready to appear whenever summoned.

Legal requirements were not fulfilled by the FIA against Moonis Elahi: Kamil Ali Agha

Kamil Ali Agha has expressed dissatisfaction over the way things were being handled in the matter of Moonis Elahi case. Alleging Zafar Qureshi, the additional director general of the FIA, of playing a biased role against Moonis Elahi, Kamil Ali Agha said the PML-Q wanted the Chief Justice of Pakistan to take notice of Qureshi’s ‘partial’ role. Criticizing Minister for Interior Rehman Malik and Punjab Law Minister Rana Sanaullah Khan, Kamil Agha said “Rana Raymond” from Lahore and “Malik Davis” from Islamabad were behind the entire “biased” action against Chaudhry Moonis Elahi.


He said legal requirements were not fulfilled by the FIA against Moonis Elahi, who had already been declared innocent by different officials. He said on the initiative of the PML-N, Rehman Malik was busy in taking unjust actions against the PML-Q leader. He also stated that Ch Moonis Elahi courted arrest and all the rumours being spread against him by the Punjab government proved baseless.

Moonis Elahi sent on three-day remand

Lahore, (March 18, 2011) Moonis Elahi, senior leader of the Pakistan Muslim League has been today granted a three day remand by the Judicial Magistrate Ehtasham Sadiq. Moonis Elahi was brought to the district court in an armored car amidst heavy police security. Many emotional scenes were witnessed on his arrival at the court. The highly charged workers of the Pakistan Muslim League showered flowers and raised thunderous slogans in their leader’s favor. Responding to the FIA’s request for a seven day remand Moonis Elahi’s lawyer Mohammad Iqbal Bhatti pleaded that his client was being politically victimized and his name was neither in the NICL case FIR and nor had he opened a fake account. He informed the court that the FIA had given Moonis Elahi a questionnaire comprising seventy questions which was duly answered and handed back to the FIA.

Moonis Elahi’s lawyer further informed the court that the FIA carried out all its activities while his client was abroad and soon after his return Moonis Elahi contacted the FIA officials on four occasions to record his statement but on each occasion the investigating agency refused to entertain his request. Moonis Elahi’s lawyer accused the FIA ADG Zafar Qureshi of victimizing his client and causing him unnecessary aggravation. He said that it was not a criminal trial where a remand was necessary and the FIA was already in possession of all the required documents.

Moonis Elahi : This is my country and I will never run away to Jeddah or England.

Lahore (March 17, 2011) Moonis Elahi, senior leader of the Pakistan Muslim League while voluntarily courting his arrest at the Lahore FIA office has categorically denied corruption charges leveled against him and has said that by Allah’s grace he will be honourably acquitted. Those people should be ashamed of themselves who had said that the PML top brass met President Zardari in connection with my case. I have full faith in the court but none in the FIA and similar organization. Persecution is nothing new for my family. Like my elders, I am also not scared of persecution. This is my country and I will never run away to Jeddah or England. When Rehman Malik arrested Chaudhry Shujat Hussain and Chaudhry Parvez Elahi I was in England from where I spoke with Chaudhry Shujat Hussain who told me not to worry as it may be my turn in times to come. 


Moonis Elahi looked visibly confident when he stepped out of his car outside the Lahore FIA office where he was greeted by a very large presence of highly charged party workers who chanted slogans assuring Moonis Elahi of their love and support. There are reports of rallies staged in protest against Moonis Elahi’s arrest throughout Punjab including Multan, Gujrawnala, Sialkot, Wazirabad, Kamokey, Bhai Phero, Phool Nagar, Gujrat, Okara, Sheikupura, Kasur and Sarogdha. 


The biggest protest rally was brought out at the Kamla Chowk Lahore where thousands of Moonis Elahi’s supporters turned out. The protesters staged a sit in and burnt tyres. Early addressing the media outside the FIA Office Moonis Elahi challenging his accusers said that they would get tired of their unfair persecution but he would not deter from his fight against injustice. They cannot keep me in as I am absolutely innocent, I am not involved in any corruption and if they prove me wrong I will pay them double the amount they have accused me of, Moonis Elahi declared. He refused to disclose the names of the real actors behind the false case against him saying that his elders had told him to withhold their names till the right time. 


Earlier when Moonis Elahi left his house to court arrest at the FIA office he was sent off by Chaudhry Parvez Elahi. Moonis Elahi was accompanied to the FIA office by Chaudhry Zaheeruddin, Rasikh Elahi, Shafay Hussain, Maj. (R) Tahir Sadiq, Chaudhry Ameer Hussain, Amir Sultan Cheema, Rizwan Mumtaz Ali, Seemal Kamran, Majida Zaidi, Amna Ulfat, Sajid Bhatti, Mian Azhar Javed, Chaudhry Yousuf Ahad, Haji Hanif, Idrees Hanif and a large number of party workers and supporters.

“I am here’. Moonis Elahi remained in the FIA office for two hours

Lahore (February 25, 2011) Moonis Elahi the central leader of the Pakistan Muslim League remained in the FIA office in Lahore on Friday for two hours to record his statement but the FIA officials did not despite repeated demands produce the FIR as well as the proofs of the baseless accusations leveled against him. Later talking to the media outside the FIA office, Moonis Elahi said that he had great respect for the law and the judiciary and he had come to the FIA office to face the baseless charges trumpeted against him with the objective of besmearing his image.


He said that he reached Lahore yesterday and had come to the FIA office the following day to record his statement. He said that he had told the FIA authorities to provide him with the FIR or proofs, if they had any against him so that he could properly answer them but the FIA officials did not heed his demand. Answering a question, Moonis Elahi said that he was a political personality and there were political players behind the case who would soon be exposed.

Moonis Elahi returns, vows to respond to accusers

KARACHI: Moonis Elahi Wednesday said he has no connection with the National Insurance Corporation Limited (NICL) scam case. “I am being dragged into this case,” he said while talking to media persons at the Karachi airport.

These accusations were a way to dishonour him, his family and his political party, and he came back to answer his accusers, said Moonis, who arrived in Karachi to face corruption allegations in NICL scam case. Moonis Elahi, son of former chief minister Punjab, Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi, was an accused in the NICL scandal case and had been granted protective bail by the Sindh High Court.

About Zafar Qureshi, the chief investigation officer of NICL case, Moonis alleged that one of his (Qureshi) brothers wanted to become the Chief Secretary of Punjab during Pervaiz Elahi’s term as Chief Minister and another brother wanted to get a PML-Q ticket.