Former Punjab CM Chaudhry Parvez Elahi Granted Bail in Illegal Recruitment Case

Chaudhry Parvez Elahi, the former chief minister of Punjab, has been granted bail in a case of illegal recruitment by a special anti-corruption court in Lahore on Tuesday. Elahi was allowed bail against a Rs 1 million bond by Judge Ali Raza.

Legal proceedings concluded on Monday, with presentations by the anti-corruption prosecutor Abdul Samad and the defense attorney, Rana Intezar. Elahi’s defense petitioned for his bail, which was countered by the prosecution, alleging Elahi’s direct involvement in the crime.

Elahi’s defense attorney informed the court that his case was previously argued before the session’s judge. When asked about the case’s record by Judge Raza, the investigating officer revealed it had been submitted for another case, provoking the judge’s dissatisfaction. The judge deferred the verdict announcement, originally scheduled for Tuesday, after granting the prosecution’s request for adjournment.

The illicit recruitment case revolves around Elahi’s alleged illegal hiring of 12 individuals for grade 17 positions in the Punjab Assembly. As an Anti-Corruption Establishment (ACE) spokesperson claimed, these recruitments were done through forged testing services by altering records. The ACE has arrested Secretary Rai Mumtaz Hussain in connection with this case.

In the meantime, the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has filed a separate case against Elahi and his son Moonis Elahi on corruption, fraud, and money laundering charges. They are accused of hiding substantial amounts of money in five Panamanian companies. The report alleges Moonis Elahi committed corrupt practices from 2004 to 2023, with his father’s complicity. Gibran Khan, Moonis Elahi’s alleged frontman, was reportedly used to execute these illicit activities.