Lahore: Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah has been acquitted by a special court in Lahore in the 2019 drug trafficking case.
Sanaullah was arrested on 01 July 2019 by a team of Anti-Narcotics Force (ANF) Lahore near Ravi Toll Plaza on the Motorway. He was going to Lahore from Faisalabad.
The ANF claimed to have recovered 15 kg of heroin from his vehicle, while arresting five others, including Sanaullah’s driver and security guards.
The court sent them to judicial remand the next day.
Sanaullah remained in jail for six months until the Lahore High Court (LHC) granted his bail on 24 December 2019.
The then PTI government was heavily criticized by the opposition and accused of political juggling against rivals. However, the Imran Khan-led government denied involvement in Sanaullah’s arrest.
The PML-N leader filed an application for acquittal in the court today and requested for an early hearing. Later, the court fixed the hearing for 2 pm.
At the beginning of the hearing, prosecutor Danish Mashkoor told the court that he had resigned and had no further connection with the case. “I can’t sign witness statements.”
The remaining two prosecutors then signed the document.
Rana Sanaullah’s lawyer, Advocate Farhad Shah, while arguing in front of the court, said that two witnesses in the case have retracted their statements. “They were witnesses to the recovery memo,” the defense informed the court and added, “the prosecution has no case to prove”.
After that, the court acquitted Rana Sanaullah and other co-accused Sabtain, Usman, Aamir and Akram in the drug trafficking case.
In response, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said of all Muslim League (N) leaders targeted by the Khan-led government, Sanaullah’s case was the “worst example” of political persecution. There were very dangerous results.
Of all PML-N leaders targeted by Niazi regime, Rana Sanaullah's case was worst example of political persecution with the most dangerous repercussions. He braved these heinous charges & repression with patience & remained steadfast. He is an inspiration for all political workers.
— Shehbaz Sharif (@CMShehbaz) December 10, 2022
“He faced these heinous allegations and oppression with patience and steadfastness. He is an inspiration to all political workers.”
Witnesses are recanting statements.
Inspector Ehsan Azam, a witness in the case, said: “He has no knowledge of the incidents and the recovery was not carried out in his presence”.
“I have not been made a witness for recovery, I have been made a witness but I do not know the facts and I do not support the prosecution’s case in any way.”
Another witness Assistant Director Imtiaz Ahmed told the court that he was not aware of Rana Sanaullah’s case and the drugs were not recovered in his presence.
“I was made a witness in the trial, I do not support the prosecution’s case, I did not see any drug recovery.”
