LAHORE: A special court for anti-corruption on Wednesday once again deferred the indictment in a case of illegal appointments made in the Punjab Assembly due to the constant absence of prime suspect PTI President Parvez Elahi on medical grounds. Judge Sardar Iqbal Dogar resumed the hearing and a lawyer for Mr Elahi stated that his client was unable to appear due to illness. He reiterated that doctors had advised the PTI leader a complete bed rest. He asked the court to allow an application for one-time exemption from personal appearance. The prosecution told the court that former principal secretary to chief minister Muhammad Khan Bhatti, a co-suspect, could not be brought from jail due to the law and order situation in the city. The judge admitted the application of Mr Elahi and adjourned the hearing till Dec 11. The judge also delayed the indictment in the case until the appearance of all suspects. The Anti-Corruption Establishment (ACE) registered the FIR alleging that illegal appointments of BS-17 posts were made in the assembly when Parvez Elahi was the chief minister and co-suspect Muhammad Khan Bhatti was his principal secretary in 2021. The prosecution said favourite candidates were appointed to the posts despite being declared failed in the written examination. The appointed candidates had also been nominated as suspects in the case. The indictment of Mr Elahi in different cases has been delayed by the relevant courts for several months due to his absence at the hearings on medical grounds before and after his release on bail as well. Besides the charges of illegal appointment in the assembly, he faces a NAB reference of receiving kickbacks in development funds and a money laundering case registered by the FIA.