The Rawalpindi Bench of the Lahore High Court on Tuesday extended the bail of federal minister Makhdoom Shahabuddin and former Health director general Abdul Rashid Jumma in the Ephedrine quota case until July 9.
During the hearing the two-member division bench comprising Justice Ijaz Ahmad and Justice Ali Baqir Najfi asked Shahabuddin to appear before the ANF’s investigation team and record his statement. Counsel for the minister, Shah Khawar argued that the ANF had become party in the case which is reflected in the attitude of the investigation officers. He said it appeared that the investigation agencies were gong beyond their limits to target someone or to fulfill somebody’s desire. The counsel said after bail from the court, his client himself went to the ANF but the investigation team did not bother to meet him and nobody was ready to record his statement. He said no officer was ready to even meet him and ultimately he had to hand over his written statement to a constable. Shah Khawar said his client remained federal minister thrice and there had been no allegation of corruption of a single rupee against him. He said his client had been involved in the case under a preplanned conspiracy. Later, Shahabuddin went to the ANF and recorded his statement. He said he had come to the ANF to prove his innocence. He said a letter had been written to the ANF to check the authenticity of the pharmaceutical company. The court ordered the release of a pharmaceutical company director, Rizwan on bail. His counsel argued that the product was purchased from the market according to fixed rates and if it was imported beyond quota, his client was not involved in it and had done no crime.
