Moonis Elahi claims money laundering case lodged against him to 'divert attention from Punjab budget'.

LAHORE -- PML-Q leader and former federal minister Moonis Elahi on Thursday blamed the PML-N-led government for the registration of a money laundering case against him by the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) and claimed that the reason for it was to "divert attention from the [provincial] budget".

He made the remarks after a four-hour-long appearance before the FIA two days after it registered the case and initiated proceedings against him.

On Tuesday, the agency's corporate crime circle booked Moonis, Punjab Assembly Secretary Muhammad Khan Bhatti and six others on charges of money laundering in an alleged sugar scam. The state has been named as the complainant in the first information report (FIR).

Subsequently, the PML-Q leader reached the FIA office on Lahore's Temple Road on Wednesday evening to join the investigation. He was, however, sent back.

Earlier today, at around 8:30am, Moonis arrived at the agency's office again. In a brief conversation with media, his lawyer, Amir Saeed Rawn said that the PML-Q leader will not apply for pre-arrest bail in this case.

"FIA didn't send us a notice before registering the case," he said, adding that his client had completed legal consultations over the matter and would soon approach courts.

Talking to the...