ISLAMABAD: Special Assistant to PM on Narcotics Control Attaullah Tarar on Wednesday announced that the dismissal of a money laundering case against PML-Q leader Moonis Elahi would be challenged. However, he added,it has yet to be decided whether an intra-court appeal will be filed or the verdict will be challenged before the Supreme Court.

Mr Tarar, while responding to a question at a news conference, alleged that the `judge who pronounced the verdict enjoys close terms with Punjab Chief Minister Parvez Elahi`. He said it would have been better had the judge recused himself and the case referred to some other judge.

He said the Lahore High Court quashed the case against Moonis Elahi despite the fact that a challan had alreadybeen submitted. He said the federal government had in principle decided to appeal the LHC`s decision and expressed the hope that the interior ministry would give formal approval in a day or two.

`It`s yet to be decided whether to submit the appeal as an intra-court appeal in the high court or in the Supreme Court,` he added.

Answering another question, the SAPM said it was on record that Imran Khan, being prime minister, had been defending and justifying tapping of phone calls and other official conversations in the name of security, but now he had taken a U-turn to `save his skin and dirty politics`.-Agencies