Ephedrine case: No evidence against Ali Musa yet, says parliamentary panel
As the premier’s son receives his first clean chit from a parliamentary committee in the drug quota scandal, Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani criticised officials in the Anti-Narcotics Force (ANF) for stepping beyond their mandate.
Chairman National Assembly Standing Committee on Narcotics Control Murtaza Javed Abbasi said there is some evidence available against the principal secretary to the prime minister and former health secretary in the Ephedrine quota issue but no concrete evidence has come on record against the premier’s son Ali Musa Gilani.
Abbasi, who belongs to the opposition Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz, said this while speaking to The Express Tribune.
Abbasi also said that the narcotics secretary has categorically refused to appear before the standing committee probing the scandal.
The committee had called the ANF director-general (DG) for a briefing on the drug quota scandal.
Ministry of Narcotics Control Secretary Zafar Abbas Lak has the additional charge of DG ANF.
The NA panel had asked Zafar Abbas and narcotics minister, Haji Khuda Bux Rajar, to brief the committee on the transfer of the investigation team that was probing the Ephedrine quota scandal, Abbasi said. Zafar Abbas informed the committee in writing that he would not appear before it, he said, adding that the committee has asked the officials once again to appear before it on April 25.
Meanwhile, the premier, at a ceremony in Lahore, said the ANF is a civilian department which works under the federal government.
“No one would dare dictate to a prime minister who was elected by 180 million people unanimously,” he said.
While careful not to take names, the prime minister criticised military officials in the ANF.
“[Those who have been deputed] should not step beyond their authority … they have to ultimately return to their parent department,” he said.
(Read: Matters before the court)
Published in The Express Tribune, April 18th, 2012.
COMMENTS (14)
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Parliament is SUPREME. As such all its panels' findings are binding on all people.Is this what the nation is supposed to believe?
"[Those who have been deputed] should not step beyond their authority … they have to ultimately return to their parent department"
A not so veiled threat
Now there is not need of courts and parliament will hearing proceedings. what a pity.
I hear the International ANF and US Congress is planning to investigate this. I think US will twist Gilani's arm and force him to accept opening of NATO supply line unconditionally in return they will look the other way.
Mr. PM Gillani because Musa Gillani is your son and is also MNA from NA149 and in Pakistani investigating departments and judiciary have not been given due freedom as they required for fair and transparent investigation.
I guess the parliamentarians were high on ecstasy when they made this decision...:)
'who dares to harm' man is above all the laws - afterall son of all powerful p.m. law in this 'islamic country' for poor and poor alone....!
Not too long ago there were drug smuggling charges against Zardari also, which later on proved false. Let the full proofs come out and punish the guilty of any and all crimes but after the trial and in a court of law not in the media.
"“No one would dare dictate to a prime minister who was elected by 180 million people unanimously,” he said."
President Clinton and Nixon were the most unfortunate leaders ever. Had they been in recent times they might have learned some wisdom from our PM and did not have to go through what they went through.
They try hard no doubt :D
"“No one would dare dictate to a prime minister who was elected by 180 million people unanimously,” he said."
President Clinton and Nixon were the most unfortunate people ever. Had they been in recent times they might not have to go through what they went through.
No evidence and the SC has take 'suo moto' notice already? I am no fan of PPP but this does not sound fair at all. Why was there no notice taken of the laptop scam in Punjab? Or the hundreds of other scams that does not involve the PPP? Fact of the matter is, the judiciary is taking its orders from a powerful force. So much for an 'independent' judiciary !!
"Corrupt politician hands his corrupt son a clean chit". Now that sounds reasonable...
Dear parlimentarians and PM. We want to know what happened to ephedrine. Pls dont create hurdles. Let the courts do it.