FIA books Moonis, assembly secy, six others on money laundering charges.

LAHORE -- With Chaudhry Parvez Elahi constantly creating hurdles in the way of smooth functioning of the PML-N-led Punjab government, the Sharifs have finally decided to institute cases against the associates of the Punjab Assembly speaker to 'fix them'.

Acting on orders from the top, the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) on Wednesday booked former federal minister Moonis Elahi of the PML-Q, PA Secretary Muhammad Khan Bhatti and six others on charges of money laundering in the sugar scam. The government has also left room in the first information report (FIR) to lay hands on Parvez Elahi later.

After the FIR was filed, Moonis reached the FIA office on Temple Road in the evening to join the investigation. However, the agency asked him to visit on Thursday (today) during office hours. 'I have come from Islamabad. I haven't applied for a pre-arrest bail. If the PML-N government wants to arrest me, torture me, it can do so, as I am ready for it,' he told reporters.

'The Sharifs constantly pressured us to part ways with Imran Khan. On our refusal, they started showing their true colours. In the coming days, they may book our other family members and workers in fake cases,' he remarked.

The former minister further said there was a Rs16 billion money laundering case against Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, and his sons Hamza and Suleman, but the FIA failed to arrest them. He chided Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah for claiming that former premier Imran Khan wanted action against him (Moonis) in the sugar scam. 'Rana Sanaullah revealed his fears to us that Imran Khan sent PML-N leaders and their cohorts behind bars and humiliated them,' he said, adding all his business transactions were documented and lawful, and his assets were declared.

Addressing the interior minister, Moonis said: 'Rana Sanaullah, do whatever you want to, I stand by Imran Khan and am ready to face the consequences.'

The FIA said arrests in this case would only be made after acquiring 'tangible evidence' against the suspects. Moonis's lawyer, Amir Saeed Rawn said the move would be challenged in the high court as such a case could not be registered without a prior inquiry.

Legal expert Barrister Umer Riaz said there was a fundamental flaw...