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Moonis Elahi

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Moonis Elahi
مونس الٰہی
Elahi in November 2013
Federal Minister for Water Resources
In office
13 July 2021 – 10 April 2022
PresidentArif Alvi
Prime MinisterImran Khan
Preceded byFaisal Vawda
Member of the National Assembly of Pakistan
In office
29 October 2018 – 10 August 2023
ConstituencyNA-69 (Gujrat-II)
Member of the Provincial Assembly of the Punjab
In office
1 June 2013 – 31 May 2018
ConstituencyPP-110 (Gujrat-III)
In office
9 April 2008 – 20 March 2013
ConstituencyPP-110 (Gujrat-III)
Personal details
Born (1976-04-12) 12 April 1976 (age 48)
Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan
Political party PTI (2023–present)
Other political
affiliations		 PML-Q (2008–2023)
SpouseTehreem Elahi
Children4
ParentChaudhry Pervaiz Elahi (father)
RelativesChaudhry Family
EducationUniversity of Pennsylvania (BBA)
Websitemooniselahi.org

Chaudhry Moonis Elahi (Urdu: چوہدری مونس الٰہی; born 12 April 1976) is a Pakistani politician who served as the Minister for Water Resources from 13 July 2021 till 10 April 2022. He was a member of the National Assembly of Pakistan from October 2018 to August 2023. Previously, he was a member of the Provincial Assembly of the Punjab from 2008 to May 2018.

Early life and education

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Elahi was born on 12 April 1976 in Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan.[1][2] His father, Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi, served as the Chief Minister of Punjab twice and as the Deputy Prime Minister of Pakistan.[3][4]

Moonis studied at the Lahore American School up to 11th grade and later moved to the UK to study at TASIS England American School in Surrey.[5][6] Later, he attended the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, where he graduated with a BBA degree in 1999.[4] After completing his education, he returned to Pakistan and joined his family business.[4]

Political career

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2007–2023: Pakistan Muslim League (Q)

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Moonis Elahi began his political career in 2007 when he led a Pakistan Muslim League (Q) (PML (Q)) rally to Islamabad.[7]

In 2008, Moonis ran for the Provincial Assembly of Punjab for the first time as a candidate of the PML (Q) from two constituencies—PP-152 in Lahore and PP-110 in Gujrat—in the 2008 Pakistani general election.[4] He won the Gujrat constituency against Chaudhry Nasir Samma, a candidate of the Pakistan People's Party, but was unsuccessful in the Lahore constituency.[4][8]

In 2010, Moonis was implicated in the National Insurance Company Limited (NICL) scandal involving Rs 320 million for allegedly involving in real estate deals of NICL land.[9][10] He initially faced legal challenges for not appearing before the investigation committee and was subsequently detained in March 2011.[9][11] However, he was acquitted in October 2011 due to lack of conclusive evidence, and by 2012, all related charges were dismissed by the Supreme Court of Pakistan.[12][13] In 2020, an accountability court acquitted all involved in the NICL scandal, observing that the prosecution had failed to bring on record any evidence.[14][15]

In 2013, Moonis ran for the Provincial Assembly of Punjab as a candidate of PML (Q) from two constituencies—Mandi Bahauddin and Gujrat—in the 2013 Pakistani general election and was successful in both.[16][3] He vacated the Mandi Bahauddin seat to retain his native seat in Gujrat.[16][3]

In 2016, Moonis was named in the Panama Papers.[17][18] In 2017, the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) initiated a new investigation into Moonis Elahi's wealth; however, in January 2021, the NAB informed the Lahore High Court that the pending inquiries against him and his family members had been closed due to a lack of evidence.[19][20]

In 2018, Moonis was elected to the National Assembly of Pakistan as a candidate of PML-Q from Constituency NA-69 (Gujrat-II) in by-election held on 14 October.[21][22] Subsequently, PML (Q) joined the PTI-led coalition after reaching an agreement.[23] By 2019, tensions arose due to delays in fulfilling the terms of coalition agreement.[24] In an effort to address these issues, Moonis became involved and met with then-Prime Minister Imran Khan, who sought PML-Q's continued support for Punjab Chief Minister Sardar Usman Buzdar and resolved the issue.[25][26]

In July 2021, Moonis was given the portfolio of Federal Minister for Water Resources during Imran Khan's tenure as prime minister. He was sworn in as the federal minister on 19 July.[27][28]

2023–present: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf

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In February 2023, Moonis left PML (Q) and joined the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) along with his father Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi and other PML (Q) members due to political rifts with the president of PML (Q), Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain.[29][30]

In March 2024, the Lahore High Court (LHC) permitted Moonis Elahi to participate in the by-elections.[31] This decision followed an earlier ruling by an appellate tribunal of the Lahore High Court, which had denied the nomination papers of PTI leaders for the general elections.[32] He lost the election of PP-158 Lahore-XIV to a PML-N candidate.[33]

Moonis is the founder of PML Build Kalabagh Dam Movement and advocates for the development of Kalabagh Dam.[34][35][36]

Personal life

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Moonis Elahi is married to Tehreem Elahi and they have four children together.[6]

References

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  1. ^ "If elections are held on time…". The News International. Pakistan. 31 December 2012. Retrieved 25 May 2021.
  2. ^ "Profile". The News International. Pakistan. Retrieved 25 May 2021.
  3. ^ a b c "Profile". Punjab Assembly. Retrieved 21 August 2017.
  4. ^ a b c d e "Chaudhry Moonis Elahi". Dawn. Pakistan. 30 April 2013. Retrieved 21 August 2017.
  5. ^ Nizami, Taimoor Hassan, Babar (21 June 2020). "The promising life and tragic death of Inov8". Profit by Pakistan Today.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  6. ^ a b "Moonis Elahi » What I'm All About".
  7. ^ "Moonis Elahi's first flight". DAWN.COM. 13 May 2007.
  8. ^ "Moonis won't run for Lahore seat". Dawn. Pakistan. 30 March 2013. Retrieved 21 August 2017.
  9. ^ a b "Chaudhry Moonis Elahi". DAWN.COM. 30 April 2013.
  10. ^ "NICL scandal: FIA draws Moonis Elahi deeper into land scam". The Express Tribune. 3 September 2011. Retrieved 21 November 2017.
  11. ^ "Magistrate hands over Moonis to FIA". The Express Tribune. 19 March 2011. Retrieved 21 November 2017.
  12. ^ Iqbal, Nasir (19 July 2012). "SC drops proceedings against Moonis Elahi". DAWN.COM.
  13. ^ "'Lack of evidence': Banking court acquits Moonis Elahi in NICL scam". The Express Tribune. 22 October 2011. Retrieved 21 November 2017.
  14. ^ Reporter, The Newspaper's Staff (5 January 2020). "NICL ex-head, three others acquitted of land 'scam'". DAWN.COM.
  15. ^ "Former NICL chief, co-accused acquitted in corruption case". www.thenews.com.pk.
  16. ^ a b Butt, Waseem Ashraf (16 November 2015). "Mandi Bahauddin election scene: Ruling party MNAs at loggerheads". Dawn. Pakistan. Retrieved 8 December 2017.
  17. ^ "259 Pakistani offshore company owners exposed". The Express Tribune. 10 May 2016. Retrieved 21 November 2017.
  18. ^ "Moonis has nothing to do with offshore accounts". The Nation. Retrieved 21 November 2017.
  19. ^ "NAB starts fresh inquiry against Chaudhrys". The Nation. Retrieved 6 December 2017.
  20. ^ Tahir, Wajih Ahmad Sheikh | Zulqernain (21 January 2021). "NAB gives clean chit to PML-Q leaders after closing last two inquiries". DAWN.COM.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  21. ^ "By-Election 2018: PTI, PML-N win four NA seats each". Geo News. 15 October 2018. Retrieved 15 October 2018.
  22. ^ Chaudhry, Fahad (18 October 2018). "ECP notifies victory of 22 candidates, withholds notices of 13 others for not disclosing campaign costs". Dawn. Pakistan. Retrieved 19 October 2018.
  23. ^ "PTI, allies can form govt without support of other parties". The News. 27 July 2018. Retrieved 4 February 2020.
  24. ^ "Shujaat accepts Fawad's apology on remarks". The News. 17 January 2019. Retrieved 4 February 2020.
  25. ^ "SPM asks Moonis to continue support to CM". The Nation. 2 January 2020. Retrieved 4 February 2020.
  26. ^ "PML-Q-PTI alliance not under threat". Dawn News. 23 January 2019. Retrieved 4 February 2020.
  27. ^ "Chaudhry Moonis Elahi takes oath as Federal Minister". 19 July 2021. Retrieved 26 July 2021.
  28. ^ "Chaudhry Moonis Elahi sworn-in as federal minister". 19 July 2021. Retrieved 19 July 2021.
  29. ^ Butt, Waseem Ashraf (23 February 2023). "What the PML-Q eyes after merger". DAWN.COM.
  30. ^ "Where is Moonis Elahi?". www.thenews.com.pk.
  31. ^ Sheikh, Wajih Ahmed (27 March 2024). "LHC allows Parvez, Moonis to contest by-polls". DAWN.COM.
  32. ^ Report, Staff (26 March 2024). "LHC allows PTI leader Moonis Elahi to contest by-polls".
  33. ^ "Complete results: PML-N sweeps by-elections as PTI-SIC remains empty-handed in Punjab". 24newshd.tv.
  34. ^ "Kalabagh Dam will guarantee cheap electricity, says Elahi". The News International. Pakistan. Retrieved 5 December 2017.
  35. ^ "People want early construction of Kalabaghdam". Dawn. Pakistan. 25 June 2015. Retrieved 5 December 2017.
  36. ^ "Wasting water: Kalabagh dam only route to prosperity, says Moonis Elahi". The Express Tribune. 31 March 2014. Retrieved 5 December 2017.
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