Politics

Rana Sanaullah acquitted in drugs case

Published

1 year ago

Farwa

PML-N leader given clean chit in drugs smuggling case.
Prosecutor resigns 15 mins before court was to take up acquittal plea.
PML-N takes a jibe at PTI after acquittal.

LAHORE: Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah Saturday has been acquitted by a special court in Lahore in a drugs smuggling case filed against him in 2019.

Sanaullah was arrested on July 01, 2019, by the Anti-Narcotics Force (ANF) Lahore team near Ravi Toll Plaza on the motorway. He was travelling from Faisalabad to Lahore.

The ANF claimed to have recovered 15kg of heroin from his vehicle, while it arrested five others, including Sanaullah’s driver and security guards.

He was sent on judicial remand the next day by the court.

Sanaullah remained incarcerated for six months until the Lahore High Court (LHC) granted him bail on December 24, 2019.

The then PTI government drew heavy fire from the opposition and was alleged of carrying out a political witch-hunt against rivals. The Imran Khan-led regime, however, denied having a hand in Sanaullah’s arrest.

The PML-N leader had filed a plea in the court seeking acquittal today and sought an early hearing. The court then fixed the hearing for 2pm.

'جان اللہ کو دینی ہے'

کاش تم لوگ دل سے بھی یہی سمجھتے pic.twitter.com/M0Byk5znUe
— PML(N) (@pmln_org) December 10, 2022

At the outset of the hearing, Prosecutor Danish Mashkoor informed the court that he has resigned and was no more associated with the case. “I can not sign off witnesses’ statement.”

After this, the remaining two prosecutors signed the document.

Rana Sanaullah’s counsel, Advocate Farhad Shah, argued before the court that two witnesses in the case have retracted their statements. “They were witnesses of the recovery memo,” the defence informed the court and added, “The prosecution has no case to prove”.

The court then announced the verdict acquitting Rana Sanaullah and other co-accused Sibtain, Usman, Amir, and Akram from the drugs smuggling case.

Witnesses retract statements

Inspector Ehsan Azam, a witness in the case, said: “he has no knowledge of the events nor was the recovery made in his presence”.

“I did not witness recovery. I was made a witness but I don’t know the facts neither I support the prosecution’s case in any way.”

Another witness, Assistant Director Imtiaz Ahmed, told the court that he was not aware of Rana Sanaullah’s case and drugs were not recovered in his presence.

“I was made a witness in the case; I do not support the prosecution’s case. I did not see any recovery of drugs.”

Latest News

Pervaiz Elahi is to be placed under home arrest per IHC orders.

Published

28 mins ago

Farwa

Judge Arbab Muhammad Tahir revealed the reserved ruling about the plea submitted by Pervez Elahi’s wife, Qaisara Elahi.

A decision was made by the court to place 78-year-old Pervez Elahi under house arrest and transfer him to the sub-jail within 15 days due to health concerns.

Notably, Pervaiz Elahi’s condition worsened at Adiala jail, prompting Islamabad police to send him to the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS).

The president of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, Pervaiz Elahi, broke his bone on 17 March after tripping in the lavatory of Adiala jail.

When Elahi’s case regarding illegal recruiting in the Punjab Assembly was being heard in court, the deputy superintendent of Adiala jail produced Elahi’s medical report.

Elahi broke his hand slightly in the lavatory after slipping, the jail officer informed the court.

From June 1 to September 18, Elahi has been arrested in a number of crimes; the most recent one was reported by the Punjab ACE on September 18.

In the Punjab Assembly, Elahi illegally hired 12 people for grade 17 positions, according to information provided by an ACE representative.

In the provincial assembly, the candidates were chosen through record-altering.

Latest News

An NAB investigation into wheat import fraud is demanded by the PPP’s Nayyar Bukhari.

Published

35 mins ago

Farwa

Bukhari stated that his party is dedicated to supporting the PML-N-led administration in the Parliament without being a part of it in response to the PML-N’s invitation to the PPP to join the federal government.

He did, however, state that the PPP’s CEC will make the final decision over his appointment to the cabinet.

Anwarul Haq Kakar, the former acting prime minister, had before dismissed the wheat import problem as a “storm in a teacup.”

In an interview with ARY News’ “Sawal Yeh Hai,” Kakar stressed the significance of comprehending the complexities of the wheat import process.

Anwarul Haq Kakar, the former prime minister, emphasised the government’s initiatives to reduce tax burdens, enable the private sector to acquire wheat, and increase revenue from import taxes.

Latest News

Fazlur Rehman wants new elections to be held.

Published

3 days ago

Farwa

Speaking to a crowd in Karachi, Maulana Fazlur Rehman claimed that meetings were “sold.” “President House and the Sindh Assembly were also sold,” he continued.

The head of JUI-F insisted on holding fresh elections right away in order to preserve the integrity of the democratic process.

He went on, “The results of the most recent elections are unacceptable and they were rigged.” In order to guarantee that the people’s opinion is heard and their mandate is honored, the JUI-chief called for new elections.

Additionally, Maulana Fazlur Rehman criticized the federal government’s foreign policy, including its position on Israel and Palestine. He declared, “We are being punished for standing with Palestine and against Israel.”

Speaking before a public assembly in Karachi, Maulana Fazlur Rehman asserted that gatherings were “sold”. He added, “Sindh Assembly and President House were sold.”

In order to safeguard the democratic process, the chairman of JUI-F asked that new elections be held immediately.

“It’s unacceptable that the results of the recent elections were rigged,” he stated. The JUI-chief demanded fresh elections in order to give the people’s voice a chance to be heard and their mandate to be respected.