Moonis Elahi

Moonis Elahi
Elahi in November 2014
Member of the Provincial Assembly of the Punjab
In office
2008 – 31 May 2018
Personal details
Born (1976-04-12) 12 April 1976
Lahore, Pakistan
Nationality Pakistani
Political party Pakistan Muslim League (Q)
Parents Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi (father)
Website http://mooniselahi.org

Chaudhry Moonis Elahi (Urdu: چوہدری مونس الٰہی‬‎; born 12 April 1976) is a Pakistani politician who had been a Member of the Provincial Assembly of the Punjab from 2008 to May 2018.

Early life and education

Elahi was born on 12 April 1976[1] in Lahore, Pakistan to Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi.[2] He received a BBA degree in 1999[2] from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.[3] After completing his education, he returned to Pakistan and joined his family business.[3]

Political career

Elahi ran for the Provincial Assembly of the Punjab as a candidate of the Pakistan Muslim League (Q) (PML (Q)) from two constituencies (Lahore and Gujrat) in the Pakistani general election, 2008. He won the Gujrat constituency but was unsuccessful in the Lahore constituency[3] where he lost the seat to a candidate of the Pakistan Muslim League (N).[4]

Elahi ran for the Provincial Assembly of the Punjab as a candidate of the PML (Q) from two constituencies (Mandi Bahauddin and Gujrat) in the Pakistani general election, 2013 and was successful in both. He vacated the Mandi Bahauddin seat to retain his native seat in Gujrat.[5][2][6][7]

He has been a fierce advocate for the Kalbagh Dam Project.[8][9][10]

In September 2018, he was allocated PML-Q ticket to contest a by-election from Constituency NA-69 (Gujrat-II).[11][12]

NICL corruption scandal

In 2010, Elahi was accused of corruption of Rs 320 million in the NICL scandal[13][14] during his father's tenure as the Chief Minister of Punjab.[3][15] Elahi denied the charges levelled against him.[16] He was declared a proclaimed offender[17] for failure to appear before the investigation committee and as a result, he was arrested and jailed.[3][18] He was later acquitted in 2011 due to inconclusive evidence and in 2012 all charges in the regard were dropped.[19][20][21] A report stated that Elahi had declared the value of his assets at not more than Rs 0.5 million in 2007. However, in 2009, he had assets worth over Rs 700 million.[22]

In 2016, he was named in the Panama Papers for having offshore bank accounts outside Pakistan.[23] However his father claimed that Elahi had nothing to do with offshore accounts.[24] In 2017, National Accountability Bureau begin fresh investigation into Elahi's wealth.[25]

References

  1. ↑ "If elections are held on time…". www.thenews.com.pk. Retrieved 4 December 2017.
  2. 1 2 3 "Profile". Punjab Assembly. Retrieved 21 August 2017.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 "Chaudhry Moonis Elahi". DAWN.COM. 30 April 2013. Retrieved 21 August 2017.
  4. ↑ "Moonis won't run for Lahore seat". DAWN.COM. 30 March 2013. Retrieved 21 August 2017.
  5. ↑ Butt, Waseem Ashraf (16 November 2015). "Mandi Bahauddin election scene: Ruling party MNAs at loggerheads". DAWN.COM. Retrieved 8 December 2017.
  6. ↑ Malik, Mansoor (2 June 2013). "• 245 newcomers • Two couples among MPAs: A raft of pledges in PA precinct". DAWN.COM. Retrieved 21 August 2017.
  7. ↑ Correspondent, The Newspaper's (13 May 2013). "Shujaat says results beyond expectations". DAWN.COM. Retrieved 21 August 2017.
  8. ↑ "Kalabagh Dam will guarantee cheap electricity, says Elahi". www.thenews.com.pk. Retrieved 2017-12-05.
  9. ↑ Reporter, The Newspaper's Staff (2015-06-25). "'People want early construction of Kalabagh dam'". DAWN.COM. Retrieved 2017-12-05.
  10. ↑ "Wasting water: Kalabagh dam only route to prosperity, says Moonis Elahi - The Express Tribune". The Express Tribune. 2014-03-31. Retrieved 2017-12-05.
  11. ↑ "Nomination of Shujaat, Moonis accepted". The News. 4 September 2018. Retrieved 5 September 2018.
  12. ↑ Correspondent, The Newspaper's (4 September 2018). "Shujaat, Moonis papers accepted". DAWN.COM. Retrieved 5 September 2018.
  13. ↑ "NICL scandal: FIA draws Moonis Elahi deeper into land scam - The Express Tribune". The Express Tribune. 3 September 2011. Retrieved 21 November 2017.
  14. ↑ "Magistrate hands over Moonis to FIA - The Express Tribune". The Express Tribune. 19 March 2011. Retrieved 21 November 2017.
  15. ↑ Newspaper, From the (26 January 2011). "NICL scandal". DAWN.COM. Retrieved 16 March 2018.
  16. ↑ "Moonis Elahi returns, vows to respond to accusers". The News. Retrieved 3 December 2017.
  17. ↑ "Moonis Elahi declared proclaimed offender in NICL scam". The Nation. Retrieved 21 November 2017.
  18. ↑ Newspaper, From the (2011-03-18). "Moonis surrenders to FIA after bail plea rejection". DAWN.COM. Retrieved 2017-12-05.
  19. ↑ "Moonis acquitted in NICL case". DAWN.COM. 21 October 2011. Retrieved 21 August 2017.
  20. ↑ Newspaper, From the (21 October 2011). "Moonis Elahi acquitted, freed". DAWN.COM. Retrieved 21 November 2017.
  21. ↑ "'Lack of evidence': Banking court acquits Moonis Elahi in NICL scam - The Express Tribune". The Express Tribune. 22 October 2011. Retrieved 21 November 2017.
  22. ↑ "SC hears NICL case today". The Nation. Retrieved 16 March 2018.
  23. ↑ "259 Pakistani offshore company owners exposed - The Express Tribune". The Express Tribune. 10 May 2016. Retrieved 21 November 2017.
  24. ↑ "Moonis has nothing to do with offshore accounts". The Nation. Retrieved 21 November 2017.
  25. ↑ "NAB starts fresh inquiry against Chaudhrys". The Nation. Retrieved 6 December 2017.
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