LHC reprimands ACE over Sana’s arrest warrant

Investigation team told to come with full preparation on Oct 28

RAWALPINDI:

The Lahore High Court (LHC) Rawalpindi Bench reprimanded the Anti-Corruption Establishment (ACE) Punjab on Monday and ordered its investigation team to appear in the court with full preparation on October 28 on the appeal of Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah against the issuance of his arrest warrant.

The court asked the ACE investigator how the warrant was issued against Rana Sana when his name was not even mentioned in the first information report (FIR) of the case. Apparently, the court remarked, the issuance of arrest warrant by the civil judge concerned was not correct.

Rana Sana has challenged the issuance of arrest warrant by a judge in Rawalpindi in a case registered by the ACE pertaining to an alleged land scam. The appeal was heard by LHC Rawalpindi Bench Judge Justice Sadaqat Ali Khan.

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The judge asked the ACE lawyers to satisfy the court that Rana Sanaullah took bribe, which witness had testified that bribe was paid and why the ACE made the case. He also asked how the arrest warrant was issued, when the accused, Rana Sanaullah, was not nominated in the FIR.

The ACE investigation team replied that Rana Sana’s name was not mentioned in the FIR but a provincial minister had been mentioned. The court was also informed that the accused and his wife paid less than the DC rate.

The court observed that there could be thousands of ministers. It added that if the amount was paid less than the DC rate, a penalty could be imposed. The judge said that it appeared to be fraud with Rana Sanaullah and instead of protecting him, the ACE had made him an accused.

However, the court gave the ACE time and ordered the ACE director general to appear in court on October 28 with complete record and evidence pertaining to the case. The court also ordered accused Rana Sanaullah to appear on the next date.

Talking to the media after the hearing, the interior minister said that he did not commit any crime, adding that the Punjab government was making false case against him. He alleged that the ACE director general was acting at the behest of the provincial government.