FIA told to submit complete challan on Oct 3

LAHORE - District and Sessions Judge Lahore Mujahid Mustaqeem Ahmad on Monday directed the FIA to submit complete challan of NICL scam against PML-Q leader Moonis Elahi in court till October 3rd. The court issued these directives when FIA officials submitted an application seeking more time of 15 days for the submission of complete challan against Moonis Elahi in the scam. The application on Monday was submitted from FIA Additional Director General Zafar Qureshi with the plea that FIA yet to complete the investigation report, as investigation team was working for the purpose. Zafar Qureshi said in the application that he was retiring on September 30th, and FIAs investigation team required further time for completing the challan. Zafar mentioned that complete challan could be submitted after next 15 days, on which Moonis counsel Amjad Pervez argued that so far FIA had failed to bring any solid evidence or witness before court against Moonis Elahi and Zafar Qureshi was allegedly biased against his client Moonis and was trying to damage the repute of his client as well. The counsel asserted that most of the witnesses against his client had denied recording of any statements against his client before the court concerned. As Zafar said in the application that investigation would submit complete investigation report after 15 days even he is retiring on September 30th. In application Zafar said that owing to security threat he was not appearing before the court against which defence counsel argued that Zafar was appearing before apex court and attending his office on regular basis and why he was avoiding his appearance before this court of Lahore. The counsel further pointed out and asserted that around 14 Rangers security men had been provided to Zafar and ,therefore, no question of security arose. He stated that according to law, the IO was bound to submit report within four days but Zafar had personal grudge with his client Moonis and ,therefore, he was trying to prolong the case instead of supporting court for the timely decision in the scam. He said that the IO should quit process of investigation or court should pass orders to change the conduct of investigation. The counsel further asserted that Zafar was using delaying tactics regarding submission of complete challan for getting extension in his services as FIA was having a list of prosecutors but nobody had been shown from FIA side as permanent representative (prosecutor) as Director Legal and Deputy Director Legal were also available with the Agency. The court after hearing the arguments directed FIA to submit complete challan on October 3rd ,otherwise, it would take the matter of acquittal application of Moonis for further arguments. Earlier, the Judge Mujahid Mustaqeem Ahmad had directed FIA to submit complete challan in National Insurance Corporation Ltd (NICL) scam against PML-Q leader Moonis Elahi till September 26th as FIA had submitted its supplementary challan and submitted an application for seeking further time for the complete challan.

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