LAHORE MIRROR – The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) has arrested Muhammad Khan Bhatti, former chief minister Parvez Elahi’s ex-principal secretary, for alleged corruption in development projects. Bhatti, along with Parvez, used his influence to appoint Mahr Azmat Hayat as XEN of the Punjab Highways Department, Gujrat Division.
They also supported him to promote the post of superintending engineer (SE), at Gujrat Circle.
It has been allegedly reported that Punjab’s former CM, ex-principal secretary, and others disregarded the rules and approved 116 kilometers of road development schemes under supplementary grants with the ulterior motive of receiving bribes and kickbacks.
Additionally, through Hayat, contracts for road development work were awarded to the chosen contractors of Parvez Elahi, his son Moonis Elahi, and Bhatti.
In order to obtain bribes or kickbacks from contractors, the accused allegedly made payments to contractors even though no work had been completed on the project.
Sources purportedly stated that “the amounts of alleged bribes were collected by the Pervaiz Elahi former CM, Moonis and Bhatti through their contractors Hayat and Sohail Asghar Awan — the personal secretary of Moonis Elahi.”
With the court’s approval, the NAB team questioned Bhatti in the Central Jail in Lahore on Sunday and carried out arrest warrants issued by the head of the accountability body.
Bhatti will appear before the accountability court in Lahore on Monday (today).
