LAHORE: PML-Q senior leader Moonis Elahi appeared on Thursday before the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) after it filed a money laundering case against him to the tune of Rs720 million.
Moonis is a former federal minister and son of Punjab Assembly Speaker Pervaiz Elahi. FIA booked him and others in the case following a report by the FIA’s Anti-Corruption Circle.
After the case was filed, Moonis visited the FIA’s office Wednesday night, but was told to appear the next morning.
The case
According to the FIR, a probe against Moonis under the Money Laundering Act was started two years ago.
The FIR further said that the report by the Sugar Commission said that Moonis was allegedly involved in money laundering.
Last year, former prime minister Imran Khan had tasked the FIA to investigate the sugar crisis throughout the country and find out who benefited from it.
Subsequently, a report by the agency released last year claimed that top PTI members as well as Moonis were among those who had allegedly gained from the sugar crisis in the country.
In addition, a money laundering case has been filed against Nawaz Bhatti, nephew of Muhammad Khan Bhatti, the secretary of Punjab Assembly, and Mazhar Iqbal, a peon at RYK Sugar Mills, said the FIR.
FIA said that both Bhatti and Iqbal have been arrested.
The FIR added that raids are being conducted for the arrest of another nephew of the Punjab Assembly secretary, Wajid Bhatti.
The development follows reports earlier this week that the FIA had decided to move against Moonis.
FIA sources said on Sunday that “sufficient evidence” has been collected against Moonis after which the agency decided to formally start an investigation against him.