PML-N’s Hanif Abbasi gets life sentence in ephedrine case

–Verdict announced after delay of at least 12 hours also bars Abbasi from contesting polls

–Court acquits seven accused giving them ‘benefit of doubt’

–PTI welcomes the verdict, PML-N President Shehbaz questions timing and manner

ISLAMABAD: An anti-narcotics court on Saturday sentenced Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Hanif Abbasi to life imprisonment and absolved seven others giving them ‘benefit of doubt’ in the ephedrine quota case.

In a first for the country’s judicial history, a verdict was announced this late at night, around 11:40 pm, despite the fact that it was reserved around 12:00 pm in the day. The verdict had become somewhat controversial after media was barred from the courtroom, which was also locked from the inside. The judge had also ordered Hanif Abbasi to stay inside the room.

Soon after Judge Mohammad Akram announced the much-delayed verdict, Abbasi was taken into custody by the Anti-Narcotics Force from the court’s premises. The PML-N workers, however, tried to hinder his arrest and later resorted to violence outside the court. They reportedly attacked the court building and smashed the glass windows.

Announcing the verdict after six years at a time when the general elections are just around the corner, the court ordered to seize assets of the accused in the verdict, consequently, disqualified the PML-N leader from contesting the upcoming general elections from NA-60 Rawalpindi. He was to face Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) backed Awami Muslim League (AML) chief Sheikh Rasheed Ahmed on July 25.

Initial reports suggest that Abbasi will be sent to the Adiala jail, the same prison where former prime minister Nawaz Sharif and his daughter Maryam Nawaz are serving their sentences in the Avenfield reference.

There was an extraordinary security outside the court building with the personnel of the ANF and police guarding the entry and exit points of the court. An armoured-personnel carrier (APC) present in premises.

To ensure security, Judge Mohammad Akram Khan was also taken off the court’s premises in an armoured-personnel vehicle.

RESPONSE:

Responding to the verdict, PML-N President Shehbaz Sharif said, “The timing and manner of judgement of Hanif Abbasi clearly shows a discriminatory attitude towards PML-N, targeting our party on the eve of the polls when PML-N is on the verge of winning the polls.”

PML-N spokesperson Maryam Aurangzeb questioned the timing of the verdict, saying, “Announcing the verdict late at night is raises suspicions.”

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan said, “Today Pakistan’s judiciary is independent.”

“Hanif Abbasi has been sent to Adiala Jail for selling drugs,” he said.

Awami Muslim League (AML) chief and Abbasi’s competitor in the polls Sheikh Rasheed said, “A man reaps what he sows.”

Meanwhile journalists also took to Twitter to express disdain over the verdict.

Marvi Sirmed said, “The way Hanif Abbasi has been eliminated from the electoral race in Rawalpindi, bears witness to the fact that making Sheikh Rasheed win had become an impossible challenge for those manipulating electoral process right now. Just like CNAK, whose competition was also eliminated.”

Hamid Mir said, “This court verdict against Hanif Abbasi just 3 days before the election directly affected the credibility of the whole election process.”

Judge Khan on Friday had rejected Abbasi’s plea to delay the trial’s deadline, noting that it has to follow orders of the Lahore High Court (LHC).

On Tuesday, the Supreme Court had dismissed Abbasi’s petition against the LHC order directing to conclude the ephedrine case against him by July 21.

EPHEDRINE CASE:

The case involves illegal allocation of ephedrine quotas worth Rs7 billion to two pharmaceutical companies – Berlex Lab International and Danas Pharmaceutical. Other than Abbasi, son of former prime minister Yousuf Raza Gilani, Ali Musa Gilani and former health minister Makhdoom Shahabuddin were also accused in the case.

Abbasi faced charges of misusing 500kg of the controlled chemical ephedrine which he obtained for his company, Gray Pharmaceutical, in 2010.

The Anti-Narcotics Force (ANF) had registered a case against Abbasi and his accomplices in June 2012 under various sections of the Control of Narcotics Substances (CNS) Act. A company cannot be allocated more than 500kg of the drug, a limit fixed by the International Narcotics Control Board (INCB).

ANF officials claimed the substance was sold by Abbasi to narcotics smugglers who used it to make ‘party drugs’. Abbasi has denied the charge, calling it “blatant political victimisation”. He along with other, including his brother, were indicted in 2014 by the CNS Court.