A special central court in Lahore on Monday issued bailable arrest warrants for former Punjab chief minister Chaudhry Parvez Elahi after rejecting his plea for a one-day exemption from appearance in a money laundering case.

Judge Muhammad Arif Khan Niazi, who presided over the proceedings, dismissed the exemption request submitted by Elahi’s counsel, who cited his client’s illness and doctors’ advice for rest. The court expressed displeasure over the plea before issuing the warrants.

The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) Lahore has already submitted an incomplete challan (charge sheet) against Elahi and other accused in the case.