SC seeks record of drug quota scam involving PM’s son

The Supreme Court on Thursday sought detailed record from the Anti-Narcotics Force (ANF) pertaining to investigation of a matter of granting quota for ingredient of medicine to two pharmaceutical companies by the Federal Health Ministry allegedly under the influence of premier’s son Ali Musa Gilani.
A three-member bench headed by Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry was hearing a civil petition, filed by the Regional Director Anti Narcotics Force (ANF) Islamabad versus Rizwan Ahmed Khan and others. The bench was informed that against the rules quota of an ingredient for a medicine ‘Ephedrine’ curing cold, flue and asthma was granted and a quantity of 9,000 kilograms was allowed instead of 1,000 kilograms to Berlex Labs International and Denis Pharmaceutical. The ingredient, also known as poor man’s cocaine, was given to smugglers who spread it all over the country to drug addicts.
The matter was raised in the Lower House in 2009 where then Health Minister Makdoom Shahabuddin constituted a committee to give its recommendations on the matter. Later on the recommendation of committee ANF initiated investigation against 10 persons including Dr Rashid Juma, Iftikhar Ahmed Babar, Rizwan Ahmed Khan, Ihsanur Rehman, Tanvirul Hassan Shirazi, Chaudhry Abdual Waheed, Ansir Farooq Chaudhry, retired Col. Tahir Alwadood Lahoti, Muhammad Hashim Khan and Taquer Ali Khan.

At the onset of the hearing, Raja Shahid Mehmood Abbasi counsel for ANF submitted that Force Commander ANF Brigadier Fahim intended to withdraw the petition. The Chief Justice inquired from Fahim, “Who gave you authority to withdraw the case – under what reasons you have decided to withdraw the petition – something is wrong at the bottom”. ANF Force Commander Brigadier Fahim apprised the bench that after the investigation of the matter, Touqeer Ahmed Khan name surfaced who under the pretext of personal secretary of Ali Musa Gilani got approval of the quota which was passed by the Federal Health Ministry against the rules and regulations.
Upon the direction of the CJP, Force Commander ANF Brigadier Fahim read out report of the inquiry committee saying that both the pharmaceutical companies misused the quota and sold it to smugglers instead of using it for the medicine ‘Ephedrine’. The CJP remarked, “The situation is causing bad names for the country as such kind of happenings taking place on official level”.
According to the report, every pharmaceutical company was entitled to get a quantity of 500 kilograms quota of the ingredient used in ‘Ephedrine’ tablet but ignoring the 20 pharmaceutical companies the Federal Ministry for Health granted quota of 9000 kilograms to Berlex Labs International and Denis Pharmaceutical.
During the proceedings, Investigation Officer/ Deputy Director ANF told the court that he had issued a notice to Ali Musa Gilani on March 12,2011 to appear for evidence because Toqueer Ali Khan used to claim himself to be private secretary of Gilani, adding neither Ali Musa Gilani nor Touqeer Ali Khan appeared for evidence so far. A letter was also read out which the sitting federal health secretary Zafar Abbas wrote to ANF saying that evidence against Touqeer Ali Khan s/o Shaukat Ali Khan or the political figure (Ali Musa Gilani) in the subject matter be brought for prior approval for proceedings. Later, the bench adjourned the hearing till April 20.