Ephedrine case: Ali Musa Gilani, others’ acquittal applications dismissed

Judge says cannot give benefit of insufficient evidence

ISLAMABAD: The Special Court for the Control of Narcotic Substances (CNS) dismissed on Wednesday applications of the ex-PM’s son, former federal minister for health and other accused seeking acquittal from the case pertaining to the multi-billion rupees ephedrine scam.

The CNS Judge Irum Niazi dismissed applications filed under Section 265-K (power of court to acquit accused at any stage) by Ali Musa Gillani, the son of former PM Syed Yousaf Raza Gillani, ex-health minister Makhdoom Shahabuddin, ex-officials of devolved heath ministry and the directors of two private pharmaceutical companies.



The judge while dismissing applications observed that the sufficient material was available on judicial record and on the basis of the evidence, the accused could not be given benefit of section 265-K. Under the section, the court can acquit the accused persons if it convinced that evidence available with the prosecution is insufficient to link the accused with the crime.

Subsequently, the court directed the prosecution to start producing evidence and witnesses from the next date of hearing – October 26 – and issued summons for three witnesses belonging to the Anti-Narcotics Force (ANF).

Published in The Express Tribune, October 19^th, 2017.