Rana Sanaullah may be indicted in drugs case on June 6

LAHORE : A Special Court for Control of Narcotics Substance Saturday again granted exemption to former Punjab Law Minister Rana Sanaullah from personal appearance in a case of trafficking 15 kilogram heroin.

The court granted exemption to Rana after his counsel filed an application seeking exemption stating that his client could not turn up before the court due to the coronavirus situation. After which, the court adjourned the hearing until June 6. Charges might be framed against Rana Sana and others on the next hearing. Rana Sana was arrested by the ANF and an FIR was registered against him under Section 9-C, 15 and 17 of Control of Narcotic Substances Act (CNSA) Sections 186, 189, 225 and 353 of Pakistan Penal Code (PPC). The ANF in the FIR claimed that the agency had received a tip-off that the vehicle of Rana Sana was carrying a heavy quantity of drugs after which a raid was conducted. The FIR further stated that when ANF officials intercepted his vehicle, he and his guards scuffled with the officials. The ANF also claimed in the FIR that when asked about the presence of drugs in the vehicle, Rana Sana himself pointed towards a blue suitcase placed behind the seat. The ANF also claimed that Rana Sana had admitted the presence of heroin in the suitcase. The drug enforcement agency seized 15 kilogram heroin from the possession of the accused, the FIR read. The ANF also recovered weapons from the possession of Rana Sana and others.

Verdict deferred: An Accountability Court Saturday deferred judgment on an acquittal application of PML-N leader Raja Qamarul Islam and others after the National Accountability Bureau informed the court that it has to file an interim reference against the accused.

Previously, the court had reserved judgment on the acquittal application of the accused for April 2. The NAB had arrested Qamarul Islam on charges of forging documents and awarding contracts of 84 water filtration plants at exorbitant rates and causing a huge loss to the national kitty. Later, the Lahore High Court had granted bail to him. The NAB had accused Waseem Ajmal of forging documents and issuing payments without taking approval from the board of directors. The accused being chief executive officer approved payment of Rs24.7 million to the management of Ali and Fatima Developers Private Limited in lieu of office rents for Saaf Pani Company without the requisite approval of BoD despite the fact that the possession had not been taken, the prosecutor added.