Escape or kidnap: Aide of Moonis disappears in mysterious circumstances
Pakistan
Awan was arrested in a corruption case lodged against former chief minister Parvez Elahi
(Web Desk) – The “escape” of Sohail Asghar Awan, the political secretary of PTI leader Moonis Elahi, from the custody of Anti-Corruption Establishment (ACE) in Gujranwala, has become a mystery after allegation of “abduction” by the family of Awan.
Awan was arrested in a corruption case lodged against former chief minister Parvez Elahi. The ACE alleged that Awan had awarded contract for construction and repair of Nabiha Bridge to Chitanwala Road Gujrat to his favourite contractor and received Rs5 million in kickbacks.
The PTI called into question the “pattern” in which the close aides of Parvez Elahi and his son Moonis had been picked up by “unidentified persons” allegedly for staying loyal to party chief Imran Khan.
It is claimed that Awan was ready to give a confessional statement against Parvez Elahi under Section 164 just before he was kidnapped by “unidentified people.”
The ACE sources claimed that the accused was be¬ing shifted to a hospital after his health deteriorated during custo¬dy. The unidentified people riding a private vehicle approached the official vehicle near the Gen¬eral Bus Stand, stopped it by force and took Awan with them forcibly.
Before Awan, at least five close aides of the father and son – former principal secretary to the chief minister Muhammad Khan Bhatti, Ahmad Faran Khan, Zagiam Gondal, advocate Amair Saaed Raan and Amjad Pervaiz Butt – had been “kidnapped” by “unidentified persons.” Some of them were later handed over either to the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) or the Anti-Corruption Establishment (ACE) to probe corruption charges against them.
Meanwhile, a case has been registered against Awan on the complaint of ACE circle officer in Model Town police station of Gujranwala.
Moonis’ friend Ahmad Faran was allegedly subjected to ‘severe torture’ before he was produced in a court. Former prime minister Imran Khan had condemned the torture and said that the Elahi family and its associates were being harassed by the government and the powers that be through fake cases and other tactics for staying loyal to him.
According to Faran, Mr Elahi was told by the powers that be that ‘red line’ had been drawn around him (Imran Khan) and he (Elahi) should refrain from dissolving the Punjab Assembly. “Mr Elahi however dissolved the assembly and afterwards the elements in the power circle got active to teach him a lesson.”
Last week, the ACE and police had launched an operation at Mr Elahi’s Lahore residence and allegedly harassed the women to arrest him. However, Mr Elahi escaped the arrest and subsequently secured a pre-arrest bail.
The Elahi family alleges that Punjab caretaker chief minister Mohsin Naqvi has been ‘super active’ in instituting fake cases against its members and associates for having a grudge against them.
Awan’s wife Faiza Sohail said in a statement that her husband was abducted by some people who came in white cars.
She claimed ACE Director General Sohail Zafar Chattha was also involved in kidnapping of Awan.
She said after finding nothing illegal against her husband and failure to present any evidence in court, they planned to abduct him.
She urged the judiciary to take notice of highhandedness of authorities and order recovery of her husband from their illegal confinement. The family also held a demonstration against his ‘abduction’.
نامعلوم افراد نے اب پولیس کی حراست سے بھی لوگوں کو اٹھانا شروع کر دیا ہے ۔ سہیل اصغر جب بھی عدالت میں پیش ہوتا تھا اور مقدمہ سے بری ہو جاتا تھا تو اسے فوراً نئے مقدمہ میں گرفتار کر لیتے تھے۔اب جب سہیل کو واپس کریں گے تو اس پر باقی جعلی مقدمات کے ساتھ ساتھ فرار ہونے کا جھوٹا… pic.twitter.com/9m3kgZCzVg
— Moonis Elahi (@MoonisElahi6) May 3, 2023
Meanwhile, Moonis said in a tweet: “Unknown persons have now started picking up people from police custody. Sohail Asghar Awan was acquitted in every fake case but he would be implicated in another. Now when he would be handed back to the authorities more fake cases including the one related to his so-called escape would be registered against him.”
