PHOTO: FILE
“This is not a police state. It is an open court and Sanaullah’s trail should be carried out in an open court rather than banning everyone”, asserted Advocate Azam Nazir Tarar. Outside the courtroom, lawyers speaking to the media bemoaned their maltreatment at the hands of police officials.
Sanaullah’s case had already raised eyebrows and now people are being barred from attending proceedings, leaving a huge question mark, the lawyers added. The lawyers said they would detach themselves from the case if things remained unchanged.
The advocates continued that the Supreme Court of Pakistan and the high courts are working like open courts where no entry had been banned. They, therefore, questioned how a lower court could impose a ban.
The lawyers were at a loss to understand why politicians and journalists were being restrained from entering this courtroom. They said it was tantamount to depriving citizens of their basic right to attending open court proceedings and no concrete measures were taken to resolve the issue.
Advocate Sayed Zahid Bukhari asked why the state was afraid enough to hide the details of this case. “Are we visiting the courts along with bombs? Why are2,500 police officials deployed here on the day of proceedings?” he asked. He also questioned the reasons for humiliating and thrashing lawyers when they tried to enter courtroom.
The lawyers said Sanaullah’s case was based on a bogus story and certain powers did not want people to be aware about it. Earlier, police used megaphones to restrain accused politicians from talking to the media gathered outside court room.
The FIR registered by Anti-Narcotics Force deputy director operations on July 1,2019, was under sections 186,189, and 353 of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC) as well as sections 15 and 17 of 9C of the CNSA 1997. The reported stated that the ANF received information that Rana Sanaullah was involved in drug smuggling and was taking heroin to Lahore.
the FIR added ANF arranged a raiding team consisting of 21 officials. They reached the motorway at Ravi Toll Plaza and intercepted two vehicles. When Sanaullah was asked about the drugs, he allegedly admitted there was heroin in a blue colored suitcase behind his seat. Meanwhile, Sanaullah’s guards attempted to rescue him, but failed.
The police reportedly recovered heroin of 15kg, guns, pistols and bullets from their possession and took them to ANF’s headquarters.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 1st, 2019.
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