Lahore, January 7, 2025: Former Punjab Chief Minister Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi has been formally indicted by an accountability court on charges of corruption and kickbacks in development projects.
Presiding Judge Zubair Shehzad Kiyani accepted Elahi’s plea for permanent exemption from personal court appearances during Tuesday’s proceedings. Elahi appeared in court earlier today, submitting an application citing health concerns as the reason for his inability to attend future hearings. He requested that Advocate Anwar Hussain be appointed to represent him in subsequent sessions.
At a previous hearing on December 20, Elahi was absent due to health issues, leading to the indictment of six co-accused, including former Punjab Assembly Principal Secretary Muhammad Khan Bhatti, Naeem Iqbal, Asif, and Asghar.
During the earlier session, Judge Kiyani expressed concern over Elahi’s repeated absences. Elahi’s counsel, Chaudhry Nawaz, explained that his client had suffered back and ankle injuries after slipping in the bathroom. Doctors had recommended complete bed rest, making it difficult for him to travel and attend court hearings.
