–Narcotics minister, ANF DG hold press conference, say action against ‘drug mafia’ will continue unabated
–Afridi says Sanaullah was arrested after a suspect arrested in Faisalabad became ‘approver’ against the lawmaker
ISLAMABAD: Minister for Narcotics Control and SAFRON Shehryar Khan Afridi on Thursday said that the Anti-Narcotics Force (ANF) had been tracking Rana Sanaullah for the past three weeks and it has got all the relevant evidence which would be furnished in the court of law.
These views were expressed by the minister in a press conference here at PID Center, where he was flanked by ANF Director General Major General Arif Malik was also present.
Briefing the media-persons over the arrest of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) MNA Rana Sanaullah, Afridi said that under the Naya Pakistan vision of Prime Minister Imran Khan, no one is above the law and everyone found involved in any unlawful activity would be brought to the book.
“We have all the relevant evidence regarding the arrest of Rana Sanaullah. However, we will furnish the evidence in court. It’s a mafia who can target witnesses and evidence,” said the minister, adding action would also be taken against more influential.
The minister said that the ANF had arrested an accused at the Faisalabad airport who then became an approver and gave information about the involvement of Rana Sanaullah.
“Based on the leads provided by the suspect, the ANF was able to track Rana Sanaullah who was later followed for three weeks and all the relevant data was acquired. The ANF could have arrested Rana Sanaullah thrice, but he was spared as his family members were present in the car,” the minister disclosed.
Elaborating further, the minister said that on the day of the raid, the ANF got a tip-off that Rana Sanaullah’s official car would again be used for transporting drugs to the Lahore airport from where the carrier would smuggle it abroad. He said transportation of drugs is a difficult business and VIP cars can help them in the act.
He said that investigations will continue and ruthless action would be taken against those involved irrespective of their influence and position.
The minister claimed that the alleged drug mafia groups being rounded up would now target him and his family as he had dared to take action against the drug barons. Drug barons would be tracked down and made an example, the minister added.
“After taking action against the land mafia, we took action against drug mafia which brings a bad name to Pakistan internationally. But the irony was that the opposition parties were trying to protect Rana Sanaullah despite the fact that he is involved with drugs,” the minister claimed.
“Today we need to tell the nation that the ‘union of thieves’ [opposition parties] is out to help save drug barons. Why the opposition did not raise their voice over those 1200 Pakistanis arrested by ANF in drugs charges this year. Were they not Pakistanis? Why they raised voice only for Rana Sanaullah. We won’t let this VIP culture thrive anymore,” he said.
“The opposition parties also raised a hue and cry when Rangers was summoned to settle mess in Karachi. Today Karachi is cleansed. ANF would also cleanse Pakistan of drug barons,” he said.
Briefing the media, Gen Malik said the ANF was a professional force. He claimed the ANF seized drugs more than any other force across the world.
“Drugs worth $4bn were brunt this year. Pakistan enjoys poppy-free status since 2001, despite the fact that Pakistan neighbours Afghanistan– a centre of poppy cultivation,” he said.
He said that ANF’s professionalism could be gauged by the fact that its conviction rate is 95 per cent which speaks volumes about its success.
Responding to another question, Gen Malik said that the ANF could have sought physical remand of Rana Sanaullah but it didn’t do so on purpose. “Had we sought physical Remand of Rana Sanaullah, the opposition may have then accused the ANF of torturing the accused to get a confession out of him,” he concluded.