ISLAMABAD: Interior Minister Rana Sanullah was accused of dealing drugs during the PTI government’s term but was cleared on Saturday by a special court in Lahore. Under the previous administration, the Anti-Narcotics Force detained the minister in July 2019. (ANF). It had claimed to have taken 15 kg of heroin out of his car. Both Inspector Ehsaan Azam and ANF Assistant Director Imtiaz Ahmed threw out the accusations against Sanaullah during today’s hearing, calling them “false.”
They claimed, “We never witnessed any kind of drugs being seized from the spot. The interior minister and every other defendant in the case were subsequently exonerated by the court.
Sanaullah’s plea
Sanaullah came to the court earlier today to make a plea. The accusation against the minister was described as having been “concocted, designed, and falsified.”
The plea, a copy of which is available with Dawn.com, states that “the prosecution remained unable to bring an iota of evidence against the petitioners/accused and the entire court file is likewise quiet about any incriminating piece of evidence against the petitioner.”
According to a statement made by PTI leader Fawad Chaudhry, “the ex-minister had categorically stated that this case was not lodged on the asking of Imran Khan’s government and it was lodged by some influential personalities of the country,” he continued to argue in his petition that the case was the result of “political victimisation.”
In the interests of justice, equity, and fair play, the minister pleaded with the court to drop the charges against him.
In a statement to the media outside of court, Sanaullah argued that his party had the right to have all erroneous charges dismissed. Even the cases that were filed against our leadership abroad were being dropped, he claimed.
The minister criticised PTI leader Imran Khan, alleging that for personal gain, he sought political unrest in the nation.
Charges against Sanaullah Sanaullah was detained in July 2019 by members of the ANF Lahore team as he travelled from Faisalabad to Lahore close to the Ravi Toll Plaza on the highway.
The Control of Narcotic Substances Act of 1997’s Section 9(C), which carries the death penalty, life in prison, a sentence that might last up to 14 years in prison, as well as a fine of up to Rs1 million, was the subject of a first information report that was filed.
According to the report, Sanaullah was allegedly involved in drug trafficking and was transporting heroin to Lahore. This information had been provided to the force.
He was twice denied bail by the trial court, but on December 24, 2019, the Lahore High Court granted him liberty.