The Anti-Narcotics Force (ANF) believes that the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) is providing shelter to Ali Musa Gilani and Makhdoom Shahabuddin – the two high-profile accused in the Rs 7 billion Ephedrine drug scam.
A private TV channel, citing ANF sources, reported that raids were being conducted in various areas of Multan and Islamabad after a court dismissed the bail pleas of the two accused, who have been evading arrest so far.
Sources said that both the accused had disconnected all means of communication, adding that the top PPP leadership was providing shelter to both the accused. ANF officials said that Shahabuddin had showed his consent to offer arrest after the rejection of his bail plea by the Lahore High Court (LHC) Rawalpindi bench. However, they added that the former textiles minister had not yet made any contact with the investigation team.
Earlier, the LHC bench comprising Justice Ibadur Rehman Lodhi and Justice Khawaja Imtiaz Ahmed dismissed the bail plea of the two PPP leaders and remarked that they had misused their positions. The judges also observed that the extraordinary relief of the pre-arrest bail could not be extended to the two accused at the crucial stage of the case. The bench had reserved its verdict on August 29.
Two arrested: In a related development, Geo News reported that the ANF had arrested two people who were smuggling Ephedrine to Iran. According to the channel, the arrested smugglers revealed vital information during interrogation following which the ANF obtained their cell phone records and found several calls made to a specific number which belonged to the personal assistant of an important personality. Further investigations are underway.