Ephedrine case: No evidence against Ali Musa yet, says parliamentary panel

“[Those who have been deputed] should not step beyond their authority … they have to ultimately return to their parent department,” PM Gilani carefully criticised military officials in the ANF.

Chairman National Assembly Standing Committee on Narcotics Control Murtaza Javed Abbasi said there is some evidence available against the principal secretary to the prime minister and former health secretary in the Ephedrine quota issue but no concrete evidence has come on record against the premier’s son Ali Musa Gilani.

Abbasi, who belongs to the opposition Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz, said this while speaking to The Express Tribune.

Abbasi also said that the narcotics secretary has categorically refused to appear before the standing committee probing the scandal.

The committee had called the ANF director-general (DG) for a briefing on the drug quota scandal.

Ministry of Narcotics Control Secretary Zafar Abbas Lak has the additional charge of DG ANF.

The NA panel had asked Zafar Abbas and narcotics minister, Haji Khuda Bux Rajar, to brief the committee on the transfer of the investigation team that was probing the Ephedrine quota scandal, Abbasi said. Zafar Abbas informed the committee in writing that he would not appear before it, he said, adding that the committee has asked the officials once again to appear before it on April 25.

Meanwhile, the premier, at a ceremony in Lahore, said the ANF is a civilian department which works under the federal government.

“No one would dare dictate to a prime minister who was elected by 180 million people unanimously,” he said.

While careful not to take names, the prime minister criticised military officials in the ANF.

“[Those who have been deputed] should not step beyond their authority … they have to ultimately return to their parent department,” he said.

(Read: Matters before the court)

Published in The Express Tribune, April 18^th, 2012.