LAHORE: Anti-Corruption Establishment Punjab (ACE) had registered a case against former chief minister Punjab Chaudhry Parvez Elahi and his son Chaudhry Moonis Elahi for receiving a bribe in the form of a kickback worth Rs 125 million, against a payment of Rs 2.90 billion due to a foreign company by Lahore Waste Management Company (LWMC), The Friday Times (TFT) has learnt.
Trail of illegal transaction
Reliable sources confirmed to TFT that it was a due amount owed by LWMC to one of the foreign companies, but Moonis and Parvez Elahi, through the former chief minister’s principal secretary Muhammad Khan Bhatti and through Moonis’ close friend and PTI leader Zubair Khan received a bribe, amounting to Rs 125 million, from Afzal Shah, who was the representative and project director of that foreign company.
Sources maintained that in the light of the source report, the inquiry 31/2023 DACE was marked to Deputy Director Vigilance, Deputy Director Technical-I and Assistant Director Financial Trail ACE Headquarters Punjab.
‘Moonis Elahi and Parvez Elahi took Rs125 million bribe’
A senior ACE official who is privy to this development told TFT that during the investigation the officials of LWMC and other concerned departments were called, along with complete records which were checked and verified. “During the course of investigation, it was confirmed that the payment of Rs 2.90 billion was made after receiving a bribe of Rs 125 million.”
Police report
Bifurcation of bribe
Senior officials said that out of the total bribe money, Rs 65 million were given to Parvez Elahi, Rs 50 million were given to his son Moonis and Muhammad Khan Bhatti, and the remaining amount was received by Zubair Khan.
Where was this bribe given?
Sources maintained that on December 20, 2022 Afzal Shah along with Zubair Khan visited Muhammad Khan Bhatti’s residence in GOR-I Lahore and gave him the money.
Modus operandi of ‘illegal’ deal
“Afterwards, during the course of investigation, it was proven that all of them misused their authority and pressured former CEO LWMC Ali Anan Qamar and other staff members of LWMC illegally and in order to get the bribe forced them to make the payment of Rs 2.90 billion immediately.
“They took the signatures of senior manager accounts, senior manager finance and chief financial officer (CFO) on final noting for settlement payment without date and got it approved by the CEO after receiving the bribe money,” a senior official who was part of the investigation team said.
He further added that CEO Anan had approved it on January 7, 2023 and interestingly the payment was made to the officials of foreign company on January 5, 2023 through cheque number 2213848360 at Chief Minister Office (CMO).
In the light of the inquiry report, it was proven that they have received a bribe amounting to Rs 125 million, which is a crime. “As per the recommendation of the inquiry report the case was registered against Chaudhry Parvez Elahi, Chaudhry Moonis Elahi, Muhammad Khan Bhatti, Ayaz Khan Niazi and Zubair Khan, and also the role of LWMC officials during the course of investigation.”
The case has been registered under section 5(2)47 PCA, and Articles 34, 161 and 162 of the PPC.
‘Nobody could save Moonis and Parvez from arrest’
Source privy to this development told TFT that it is another strong case against Moonis Elahi and Parvez Elahi along with corroborative evidence.
“It seems nobody would be able to save them from this case in the presence of evidence and statements of people who were pressured and forced to do things in order to get their share of kickback,” a senior official concluded.
The writer is a senior correspondent at The Friday Times with a focus on politics, economy and militancy. He also hosts the Hassan Naqvi Show on Naya Daur.
