- CJP says can anyone be more powerful than institutions?
- SC summons senior NAB, FIA officials for next hearing
ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court on Friday summoned a senior police officer, additional director general of the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) and an owner of a private pharmaceutical company in the case of fixation of prices of medicines besides adjourning the hearing of the case till Tuesday.
During the hearing of the case, Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP) head pointed out a ‘powerful man’ of Pakistan. Upon it, Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Saqib Nisar remarked, “I am too fond of seeing this man now. I wonder that institution has come up with such an application. Can anyone be more powerful than institutions?”
A three-member Supreme Court bench presided over by the chief justice took up for hearing the case pertaining to fixation of prices of medicines on Friday. During the hearing, the DRAP chief told the court that the Ministry of Health and the authority were unable to take any action against a powerful drug mafia. The authority has filed a petition for help in HR Cell of the apex court.
The DRAP head disclosed before the court that the Everest Pharmaceutical Company was manufacturing sex drugs in the federal capital. Muhammad Usman, the company’s owner, was so much ‘powerful’ that no officer of DRAP can enter into his company or office,” he said. “We are helpless against this company since four years,” he said.
“As soon as we take any action, NAB and FIA summon us. This company has registered 30 cases against us in reply to DRAP notice,” he said. He further said that the formulas worked out by this company have not been approved anywhere in the world. “Our every officer fears from going to his office,” he said.
The DRAP chairman told the court that DIG Riffat Mukhtar also browbeats them due to this company which is manufacturing sex drugs. “This company’s owner gets publish news against us. He is highly influential,” he said. The health secretary told the court that NAB and FIA officers were supporting the owner of this company.
“They harass us when we take any action against the company,” he said. The court directed owner of this company, the senior police officer who is supporting the company and senior NAB official to appear before it in person besides adjourning the hearing of the case till Tuesday.