The Anti-Narcotics Force (ANF) on Friday came under judicial scrutiny for overstepping its limits.
Ali Musa Gilani, the main accused in the ephedrine case, was arrested by the ANF, brought to the apex court and granted bail – all within a couple of hours in a series of events that usually take days if not weeks.
Heading a three-judge bench, Justice Nasirul Mulk granted bail to Ali Musa Gilani, son of former premier Yousaf Raza Gilani, till September 25 against surety bonds of Rs0.5 million.
Ali Musa, who is also a member of the National Assembly, was arrested by the ANF at the Supreme Court gate before he could submit an application for pre-arrest bail.
ANF officials dragged him out of his car, manhandled and handcuffed him as he tried to reach the court, officials present at the scene told The Express Tribune.
The bench took serious note of Ali Musa’s arrest from the court premises and ordered the ANF to present him within half an hour. The bench summoned the ANF officials and censured them.
Sources told The Express Tribune that the operation to arrest Ali Musa was supervised by ANF Director General Brigadier Faheem and investigation officer of the case Abid Zulfiqar.
Brig Faheem had told The Express Tribune on Thursday that Ali Musa was absconder in the case and the ANF could even summon his father for questioning.
Advocate Faisal Chaudhry, a member of Ali Musa’s legal team, said the court could initiate proceedings against the ANF for harassing his client.
Chaudhry said they would seek legal remedy against ANF’s “highhandedness”. “The apex court has also allowed us to file a separate application in this regard.”
After the court proceedings, Colonel Akhtar Hussain, legal director of the ANF, justified to the media the arrest of Ali Musa. He said the former premier’s son was arrested not on the court premises. It is the first time the son of an influential person was treated like any ordinary accused, he added.
Ali Musa reposes trust in court
Speaking on the court premises after he was granted bail, Ali Musa said that he had faith in the Supreme Court, but not in the ANF.
“I respect the courts and used to think that everyone else also does. But today uniformed men committed contempt of court while being on the Supreme Court premises,” he added.
Ali Musa said that he had come to the court alone, though he could also “bring a lot of people who had voted for him.”
While showing the media a bruise on his leg, Ali Musa said that the ANF officials manhandled him and harassed him.
Asked why he wanted to submit his plea after Makhdoom Shahabuddin, Ali Musa said he wanted to come prepared before the court and needed to consult his lawyer on his petition.
Published in The Express Tribune, September 15th, 2012.
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