NAB arrests Former Principal Secy Muhammad Khan Bhatti

Lahore: The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) on Sunday apprehended former Principal Secretary Muhammad Khan Bhatti for his alleged role in a corruption case.

The NAB's spokesperson said that Muhammad Khan Bhatti had been facing allegations of corruption related to development contracts amounting to Rs 1 billion.

He said Muhammad Bhatti was also accused of playing role in unauthorized appointments in Gujrat and approval of 116 schemes through these appointments.

The former secretary was also accused of being involved in taking commission payments before project completion. The allegations also involved transfer of funds to the accounts of Pervez Elahi and his son Moonis Elahi, and Mohammad Khan Bhatti.

Bhatti, according to the reports, had disclosed details of his financial transactions with former federal minister Moonis Elahi. In a confessional statement to the anti-corruption team, the reports said, Bhatti admitted to investing Rs 100 million in a sugar mill in Rahim Yar Khan through Moonis Elahi and mentioned that he used to settle various matters at Moonis Elahi's residence.

The former principal secretary of the former Punjab Chief Minister said that he purchased sugar worth Rs 250 million from Ghotki, and the profits from the sugar mill trading were distributed among various parties.

Previously, former Chief Minister of Punjab Pervaiz Elahi had been re-arrested on Zahoor Elahi Road in Lahore shortly after being released by the Lahore High Court (LHC) in the Asset Beyond Means case.

Punjab's capital police took Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) President Pervaiz Elahi into custody under the Punjab Maintenance of Public Order and later transferred him to Islamabad via helicopter.