The Supreme Court on Friday extended the bails of two high-profile accused –former prime minister’s son Ali Musa Gilani and former health minister Makhdoom Shahabuddin – in the Rs 7 billion Ephedrine quota scandal.
A three-member bench headed by Justice Nasirul Mulk heard the pre-arrest bail petitions. The bench further ruled that the bails for the two accused would remain in effect until the court gives a verdict in the drug case. Earlier during the hearing, Ali Musa’s counsel Khalid Ranjha claimed that the allegations against his client could not be proved. In response, Justice Tariq Pervez said the allegations against his client included use of political influence to influence ephedrine drug quota and making phone calls to certain individuals, as opposed to possessing the controlled substance.
Ranjha replied that all public representatives make phone calls to address the issues of their constituents, while claiming that his client had not made any objectionable phone calls in the matter.
After Ranjha’s arguments, Anti-Narcotics Force (ANF) lawyer Shahid Abbasi said it was under ANF’s jurisdiction to determine whether or not the drug was misused. He said that political clout had been used throughout to influence the drug quota, adding that the influence exerted by Tauqir Ahmed Khan, personal secretary to Ali Musa, was on record.
Later, the bench approved an extension in the bails of the two accused and adjourned the hearing. Talking to reporters outside the Supreme Court, Ali Musa expressed trust in the apex court and hoped that it would forward his case to a trial court, where he was confident of succeeding. He further said that the extension in his bail had proved that the ANF could not succeed in its efforts to target him “politically”. Shahabuddin, who was serving as health minister while ephedrine quota was being misused, said there had been no evidence against him. “I have never been charged with corruption. God is on my side as I’m being honest,” he asserted.
