A Lahore accountability court has charged Parvez Elahi, President of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), with corruption following a reference from the National Accountability Bureau (NAB). The charges against Elahi, who served as Punjab’s former chief minister, include illegally approving development schemes, accepting kickbacks, and causing a loss of over Rs1 billion to the national treasury.
The NAB alleges that Elahi and his son Moonis favoured certain contractors, channelling more than Rs1 billion in kickbacks through intermediaries for over 200 projects in the Gujrat district during his tenure. Additionally, Elahi is accused of embezzling more than Rs744.5 million.
The investigation revealed that Moonis deposited €1.61 million in his foreign bank account, and family members placed over Rs304 million in their accounts. The Anti-Corruption Establishment (ACE) of Punjab also accuses Elahi of illegal hiring practices and influencing recruitment to benefit unqualified candidates.
These charges compound the ongoing legal troubles for PTI leaders, including founder Imran Khan and senior leader Shah Mahmood Qureshi, who have been detained in various cases for months.
Amid these developments, PTI continues negotiations with the government, repeatedly calling for the release of its founder and party workers. These calls persist as the party awaits a key verdict in a £190 million case against Khan, who has been incarcerated in Adiala jail for over a year.
Read: Chaudhry Parvez Elahi Released from Prison After Yearlong Legal Battle
