RAWALPINDI:
Former director-general health Dr Rasheed Jumma recorded his statement as an approver in the ephedrine case on Monday.
In his statement before an Anti-Narcotics Force (ANF) court, he accused former premier Yousaf Raza Gilani’s son Ali Musa, then health minister Makhdoom Shahabuddin and health secretary Khushnud Akhtar Lashari of pressuring him to include excessive quotas in consumption permits.
Special Judge ANF court Chaudhry Zaffar Iqbal recorded Dr Jumma’s statement.
In yet another development in the ephedrine case, the Lahore High Court (LHC) granted pre-arrest bail to Ali Musa until July 30.
Justice Iftikhar Hussain Shah and Justice Ibadur Rehman Lodhi of LHC’s Rawalpindi bench directed Ali Musa to submit a surety bond worth Rs50,000.
The bail pleas of Makhdoom Shahabuddin, Dr Jumma, former deputy drug controller Abdul Sattar Surani and former director Dana Pharmaceutical Company Rizwan Khan were also extended until July 30.
Ali Musa’s counsel Advocate Khalid Ranjah, in his arguments before the court, said that the ANF did not figure any evidence against his client. “He was implicated on political grounds,” he added.
According to Ranjah, the ANF had submitted three interim investigation reports to the court and Ali Musa’s name did not have in any of them.
On Dr Jumma’s statement, Ranjah maintained that it, too, did not name his client as an accused and thus, Ali Musa should be granted bail.
However, it was before the media that real tirades came to the fore.
Ali Musa, talking to media representatives outside the court, said that he had nothing to do with the ephedrine case, and had only been dragged into it on a political basis.
“Others, who had granted export quotas and obtained the chemicals, have become approvers under duress,” alleged Ali Musa.
“It seems as if all efforts are being made to find me guilty,” he remarked.
On the other hand, Dr Jumma denied reports that he had deliberately gone missing in order to avoid his statement being recorded.
“I had been unwell and thus not able to appear before the court,” he said.
Asked if he had been ‘coerced’ to become an approver in the case, Dr Jumma denied being put under any pressure.
“I have given my statement before the court without any coercion or pressure,” he added.
Published in The Express Tribune, July 17th, 2012.
COMMENTS (2)
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No proofs, no testimonies and the main culprit becomes approver and is granted immunity. This is Pakistan's 'azaad adliya' worst than the justice imparted in former Soviet Union.
Ali Musa's party is in power and still it is a political motivated case. Find out Musa, who is behind this. Dr. Khalid is proving himself a true ally of the perpetrator. What a disgraceful attitude. He is following the foot steps of Aitzaz.