Former prime minister Imran Khan – daughter of ousted prime minister Nawaz Sharif, Maryam Safdar – son of incumbent Chief Minister Punjab Pervaiz Elahi, Moonis Elahi remained the luckiest persons on Monday as all were granted remedy in accordance with their pleas from Islamabad High Court and Lahore High Court respectively.
A larger bench of Islamabad High Court, led by Chief Justice Athar Minallah and comprising, Justices Mohsin Akhtar Kayani, Miangul Hassan Aurangzeb, Tariq Mehmood Jahangiri and Babar Sattar dismissed a show-cause notice, issued against PTI’ chief Imran Khan for his controversial remarks against Additional District and Sessions Judge (ADSJ) Islamabad Zeba Chaudhry at an August 20 public rally.
Responding to counsel for Imran Khan during the hearing that a third reply had been submitted before the court in the matter in hand, the IHC’s Chief Justice Athar Minallah said while addressing to Imran Khan, “We have read your affidavit – Is there anything else you would like to add? – prima facie this was a contempt of court case but it was being dismissed due to Imran’s conduct”.
Although the federation’s counsel, a deputy attorney general opposed the decision while relying upon top court verdicts but the Chief Justice Athar Minallah said, “We take a lot of care in contempt of court cases,”. He further observed the IHC was “dismissing” the notice issued to Imran, effectively ending contempt proceedings against the PTI chief. “This is the unanimous decision of the larger bench,” he remarked.
LHC returns ousted PM Nawaz’s daughter Maryam passport in money laundering case:
At principal seat of the Lahore High Court (LHC), a full bench of the Chief Justice Muhammad Ameer Bhatti, comprising Justices Ali Baqar Najafi and Tariq Saleem Sheikh on Monday granted relief to PML-N Vice President Maryam Safdar.
After hearing the plea of Maryam Safdar, the bench issued directives to deputy registrar (judicial) to return Maryam Safdar passport. She had surrendered the traveling document and a deposited a substantial amount of Rs70 million in pursuance to the court directives to LHC’ registrar officer during 2019 when sought bail in the Chaudhry Sugar Mills (CSM) graft case.
During Monday’s hearing, a deputy attorney general and National Accountability Bureau (NAB) prosecutor submitted before the bench unanimously that neither the federal government nor the top anti-graft body had any objections to returning the passport to Maryam Safdar.
Earlier, the NAB had filed reference mainly accused Maryam of being involved in money laundering under the garb of sale and purchase of the CSM’ shares. It said she had become the largest shareholder of the mills in 2008, having over 12 million shares and her assets had been found disproportionate to her income. According to the reference, the CSM’ unit was shifted from Gojra to Rahim Yar Khan in 2015 at a cost of Rs1.5 billion and this amount had not so far been justified by the suspects.
Maryam was arrested in the CSM’ graft matter and was sent on physical remand and later remanded in judicial custody, after which the LHC granted her bail in 2019.
Responding to the bench query during proceedings on Monday, the NAB prosecutor submitted that the top anti-graft body was looking into the matter in light of the new law. “We are seeing how this case will proceed under the new [NAB] law. The investigation wing has to decide whether the case will continue or be disposed of,” he said.
LHC quashes FIR filed against CM Punjab’ son Moonis in money laundering case:
While accepting the plea of incumbent Chief Minister of the Punjab Pervaiz Elahi’s son Moonis Elahi that Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has been mobilized against him to register a money laundering case on political grounds, the LHC directed the FIA to quash FIR registered against PML-Q leader Moonis Elahi.
A single-member bench of the Justice Asjad Javaid Ghural after hearing detailed arguments first reserved the decision and then announced the verdict.
During the proceedings, the deputy attorney general Asad Ali Bajwa while shedding light on the important features of the case implored the court that the challan of 13,144 pages had been submitted before the court.
Following this, Moonis Elahi’s counsel Amjad Pervez argued to the court that he had citations of around fourteen (14) decisions to establish his case in favour of the accused petitioner.
The investigation officer apprised the court that shares were purchased and sold through fake accounts. He further submitted that the shares first were sent into the companies and then transferred to the Moonis Elahi’s family.
Elahi’s counsel argued that NAB continued conducting inquiry for 20 years but found nothing against the petitioner accused. Neither any bank nor account holder complained against Moonis Elahi. He argued that FIA also had no evidence of corrupt practice, misuse of power and money laundering against the accused petitioner.
