LAHORE: The Lahore accountability court has formally indicted Parvez Elahi, President of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), in a corruption case filed by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB). Parvez Elahi, the former chief minister of Punjab, denied all charges brought against him during the court hearing. Witnesses have been summoned for the next session.
The senior politician, along with his son Moonis Elahi and several others, is accused of approving illegal development schemes. According to NAB, these actions led to over Rs1 billion in losses to the national treasury. NAB further alleged that Parvez Elahi and his son secured bribes by awarding contracts to their preferred contractors. Over Rs1 billion in kickbacks were reportedly funneled through intermediaries in more than 200 development projects in the Gujrat district during Parvez Elahi’s second term as Punjab’s chief minister.
The reference highlighted that the former CM embezzled over Rs744.5 million through bribes and kickbacks. An accountant allegedly deposited these illicit funds into accounts held by Moonis Elahi and his family. Moonis reportedly transferred €1.61 million to his foreign bank account. Additionally, family members deposited more than Rs304 million into local accounts, the reference claimed.
The investigation concluded that the suspects were guilty of corruption. NAB requested the accountability court to begin their trial and impose appropriate penalties.
The Anti-Corruption Establishment (ACE) Punjab has also filed a separate case against Parvez Elahi. This case accuses him of accepting bribes and making illegal appointments during his tenure. The ACE alleged that he influenced the recruitment process by bypassing qualified candidates in favor of unqualified individuals who had not even taken mandatory exams.
This indictment marks another challenge for the PTI leadership, which has been dealing with numerous legal cases. PTI founder Imran Khan, senior leader Shah Mahmood Qureshi, and others have been incarcerated for months. Parvez Elahi’s indictment coincides with ongoing negotiations between the former ruling party and the government.
Meanwhile, Imran Khan remains in Adiala jail, awaiting a verdict in the £190 million case against him. Although PTI has not submitted a formal list of demands during talks with the government, the party has consistently called for the release of its founder and detained workers.
This legal development adds to the mounting pressure on the PTI as the party continues to grapple with internal and external challenges.
