Justice Stood Tall, Moonis Elahi Stood Victorious

Justice Stood Tall, Moonis Elahi Stood Victorious

An Eye Witness Account of Moonis Elahi’s Acquittal Decision Passed on October 21, 2011

By: Rizwan Mumtaz Ali

The suspenseful and tortuous 219 day trial of the senior Pakistan Muslim League leader Moonis Elahi finally came to an end on Friday, October 21, 2011 when the District and Sessions Judge Lahore, Mr. Mujahid Mustaqeem finding Moonis Elahi innocent of all the charges brought up by the Federal Investigation Agency, honourably acquitted him in the NICL case. The application in hand is accepted and Moonis Elahi is acquitted, announced the judge. The decision instantly generated a thunderous roar from a large number of enthralled and jubilant Pakistan Muslim League workers, leaders and Moonis Elahi’s supporters gathered inside and outside the court room. The court’s order read that the prosecution had to establish the charges with cogent and overwhelming evidence, and convictions could not be based on mere presumptions. In an 11-page decision the judge held that Moonis Elahi was not nominated in the First Information Report (FIR) and that all the prosecution witnesses had turned hostile and not uttered a single word against Moonis Elahi in their statements. The court added that the confessional statements of the two other individuals accused in the case had no bearing on the acquittal decision of Moonis Elahi. Mere confession of an accused cannot be used against his co-accused for passing a conviction, unless it is corroborated with independent evidence, read the court’s order.

Moonis Elahi was now free to walk away from the court room. His extraordinary brave decision of returning to Pakistan and facing all accusations had on this day been vindicated. In the absence of an extradition treaty between Pakistan and England, nothing could have forced Moonis Elahi to return. Yet, he came back. He didn’t ask for clemency or any kind of leniency from the country’s judiciary. He only asked for his right to plead his innocence. Such a step even the bravest of the brave think twice before taking, especially when the opponent is so powerfully established.

Surrounded by his supporters after acquittal and inching towards the courtroom door, Moonis Elahi was wearing that same pleasant smile he had worn throughout his court appearances in the last eight months. Remarkably, Moonis Elahi remained highly composed throughout the course of his trial and never for a moment showed signs of panic or perturbation. There were days when the mood of the court was extremely abrasive and the prosecution would try to hurl all kinds of false accusations at him, but Moonis Elahi never resigned to such odds. He never abandoned his struggle. His belief in himself and in his principles was too strong. His opponents must now be getting a fairly good idea of the kind of defiant, determined and strong personality that hides behind that smiling façade.

Among many slogans being chanted the crowd’s favourite was “Wazir e Aala (Chief Minister) Moonis Elahi”. Moonis Elahi’s release had certainly reinvigorated the workers and they had every reason to celebrate a much required morale boosting outcome of the case where their favourite leader had been falsely implicated.

Even his worst critics in their heart of hearts do admit and some also confess openly that Moonis Elahi will in times to come be the force to reunite the currently balkanised Pakistan Muslim League and rid it of the undemocratic elements. A brilliant organiser, an outstanding decision maker gifted with an exceptional political intelligence, apathetic, inspiring, emotionally connected with his people is how his party workers describe Moonis Elahi. And on that day, when after a brave and heroic legal struggle where Moonis Elahi embraced all difficulties to prove his innocence, the result had undoubtedly reinforced the workers’ love, loyalty and trust for their favourite leader. It was indeed the culmination of a brave struggle. And they were emphatically expressing their joy and appreciation at Moonis Elahi’s courageous legal fight and his logical acquittal by chanting slogans, bhangra dancing and enthusiastically congratulating one another. Indeed, Moonis Elahi’s acquittal had given his friends a great fillip and his foes an utter frustration.

Earlier, when the judge was still in his chamber and Moonis Elahi had arrived, the mood in the jam packed courtroom and outside was rather quiet. The television OB vans were positioned and a huge number of press and TV reporters and cameramen were assembled inside and outside the courtroom. PML workers, leaders and friends of Moonis Elahi were waiting for the outcome of the case patiently. They had in the 8 months of the trial amply demonstrated this patience along with their favourite leader, Moonis Elahi. In fact, Moonis Elahi was their biggest inspiration here. The way he had braved the personal animus of certain individuals and valiantly fought a politically motivated trial, to them was an enough evidence of Moonis Elahi’s courage, resoluteness and strength of nerves. Later, when the judgement was announced they were all heard saying that Moonis Elahi had proven beyond any doubt his ability to handle the toughest of situations intelligently and bravely.

Prior to the judge’s arrival, Moonis Elahi, as is his wont, was walking up to each one of the people in the courtroom and giving them his customary personal attention. Many in the media who had been covering the case since March, 2011 and by now were well aware of the falsehood of accusations against him were also wishing Moonis Elahi their very best wishes.

And then came the moment everybody had been anxiously waiting for. The District and Sessions Judge, Lahore Mr. Mujahid Mustaqeem entered the courtroom, everybody rose and the court came in session. This session would never have been convened and the opportunity never arisen had Moonis Elahi during the course of the trial suddenly not informed everybody including his elders and his team of lawyers that he would not go for a bail application or for any temporary relief during the trial and instead his sole fight would be to prove his innocence and eventually win an acquittal. Despite opposition, he went ahead with this decision. Today, it was truly a test of Moonis Elahi’s sound decision making capabilities. All eyes and ears were focussed at the judge now. Along with Moonis Elahi, it was also a litmus test of the claims of a free judiciary in the country. And when the judge announced Moonis Elahi’s acquittal in his short decision, suddenly the first thought that went through the minds of the people there was that justice had prevailed and Moonis Elahi had won.

Bravo! Moonis Elahi. Kudos! Pakistani justice.