Court reserves decision on Rana Sanaullah’s application

PML-N leader seeks record of statements of witnesses

LAHORE:

An anti-narcotics court has reserved its decision on an application submitted by PML-N Punjab President Rana Sanaullah, allegedly involved in a drug-peddling case, seeking copies of statements of prosecution’s witnesses recorded against him.

Judge Shakir Hassan heard the case and fixed January 11 as the date for deciding the fate of the application.

As the proceedings commenced, the judge observed that the prosecution should provide copies of statements, if it had recorded, to the accused.

The prosecutor apprised the court that the copies of the statements of those witnesses who are included in the list have been provided to the accused. “The accused has been handed over all relevant documents, including challan of the case, as well as the CCTV footage,” he added. “The investigation officer included the names in the witnesses list and made it part of the record if there is a statement of any witness.”

The counsel for the accused apprised the court that Ashfaq Chachu, Salamat, Pervez Jutt, Ashiq Hussain and others had been asked to get their statements recorded.

Advocate Farhad Ali Shah argued that the IO is duty-bound to record the statements of those witnesses who are summoned whether they are in favour of the accused or against him. “It is not right to record only that statement which is against the accused.”

“This case is purely of political victimisation,” the counsel argued. Finally, the judge fixed January 11 for deciding the fate of the application.

According to the FIR registered by Anti-Narcotics Force deputy director operations on July 1, 2019 under sections 186,189, and 353 of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC) and sections 15, 17 of 9C of the CNSA 1997, the ANF received information that Sanaullah is involved in drug smuggling and is taking heroin to Lahore.

The ANF arranged a raiding team consisting of 21 officials. They reached the Ravi Toll Plaza and intercepted two vehicles – a white Toyota Land Cruiser and a black Double-Cabin – coming from the motorway.

When Sanaullah was asked about the drugs, he admitted that there was heroin in the blue suitcase behind his seat. Sanaullah’s guards put up resistance but to no avail. The police recovered 15kg heroin, guns, pistols and bullets from their possession and took them to the ANF’s headquarter.