LAHORE - The Lahore High Court (LHC) on Monday quashed the money laundering case registered by the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) against Pakistan Muslim League (PMLL-Q) leader Moonis Elahi. Justice Asjad Javaid Ghural passed the orders while allowing a petition filed by Moonis Elahi for quashing the money laundering case against him.
Moonis Elahi’s counsel Advocate Amjad Pervaiz, a deputy attorney general and investigation officer appeared during Monday’s proceedings.
The deputy attorney general argued before the court that the Agency had filed the challan in the court concerned against Moonis Elahi and other accused on September 29. The court questioned how the case could be registered if the bank was not a complainant in the matter.
The deputy attorney general replied that the bank officials were involved in the matter, adding, how they could get registered a case against themselves. He further submitted that the inquiry was initiated on the directions of the federal government in the matter, while replying to another query.
At this, the court questioned whether the inquiry was launched in the light of sugar commission’s report.
The court was informed that the case was registered after inquiry of Jehangir Tareen and others.
Advocate Amjad Pervaiz submitted that the challan of Jehangir Tareen’s case had not been filed yet whereas challan against Moonis Elahi had been filed.
Subsequently, the court, after hearing arguments of the parties, reserved its verdict for a short while. Later, the court allowed the petition filed by Moonis Elahi and quashed the money laundering case.
The FIA had registered a case against Moonis Elahi, and others under Sections 109, 420, 468, 471, 34 of PPC read with 5(2) of Prevention of Corruption Act 1947 and 3/4 of the Anti-Money Laundering Act 2010 in connection with the affairs of the RYK/Alliance Sugar Mills Group.
It is pertinent to mention here that Moonis Elahi had obtained bail from the special court in the matter.
