Ephedrine case: Pharma company director challenges indictment

Says two unlinked companies cannot be charged jointly

ISLAMABAD: The director of a pharmaceutical company - who was indicted in the multi-billion ephedrine scam case along with a former federal minister, a son of former prime minister Yousaf Raza Gilani and others -- has challenged his indictment before the Islamabad High Court.

The case was registered after two pharmaceutical companies - Danas Pharmaceutical Limited and Berlex Lab International - were accused of obtaining export quotas for ephedrine in collusion with health ministry officials that exceeded the limits fixed by the International Narcotics Control Board (INCB).



Ansar Farooq, one of the directors at Danas Pharmaceutical Limited, moved the IHC through a petition challenging a joint trial on the grounds that the trial court cannot charge two different companies with no connection between them.

Farooq has called for the secretary Ministry of Narcotics Control and an Anti Narcotics Forces investigation officer to be made respondents.

The case comes up for hearing on Thursday (today) before an IHC division bench comprising Justice Athar Minallah and Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kayani.