Pervaiz Elahi indicted in kickbacks reference

Former Punjab Chief Minister Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi has been indicted by an accountability court in a reference involving corruption and kickbacks in development projects.

The court, presided over by Judge Zubair Shehzad Kiyani, on Tuesday accepted Pervaiz Elahi's request for a permanent exemption from personal court appearances.

According to the 24NewsHD TV channel report, the next hearing has been scheduled for January 21.

Earlier today, Pervaiz Elahi appeared in court and submitted an application seeking exemption from future hearings due to health issues.

In his application, he stated that he is unwell and unable to attend court on every date. The court was requested to appoint Advocate Anwar Hussain as his representative for future hearings.

At the previous hearing on December 20, Pervaiz Elahi failed to appear in court for health reasons. During that session, six co-accused were indicted, including former Punjab Assembly Principal Secretary Muhammad Khan Bhatti, Naeem Iqbal, Asif, and Asghar.

During the last proceedings, the judge questioned Pervaiz Elahi’s absence. His lawyer, Chaudhry Nawaz, explained that Elahi had slipped in the bathroom the previous evening, resulting in back and ankle injuries.

According to his lawyer, doctors have prescribed bed rest and additional assistance for mobility, rendering him unable to attend hearings physically.

Reporter: Jamaluddin Jamali