Ephedrine case: Ex-premier Gilani, others asked to reveal source of income

Court orders 15 accused to submit in writing how they had accumulated their assets.

RAWALPINDI:

The Control of Narcotics Substances (CNS) court on Saturday issued notices to 15 accused in the ephedrine case including ex-prime minister Yousaf Raza Gilani, his wife Fouzia Gilani and son Ali Musa Gilani to inform the court in writing about their source of income.

Responding to an application by the Anti Narcotics Force (ANF) for confiscation of their property in case of alleged allocation of ephedrine quota, Special Judge Anti-Narcotics Court Arshad Mehmood Tabbasum issued notices, seeking the ex-premier and his family members’ response by July 13, 2013.

The court also issued notices to other accused, including former federal minister for textile industries Makhdoom Shahabuddin, his wife and son, to respond to the seizure of their properties by the ANF.

Earlier the ANF informed the trial court that under the Control of Narcotic Substance Act, it had seized the immovable property and bank accounts of the people allegedly involved in illegal allocation of 9,000kg of ephedrine to two different pharmaceutical companies.

Under the law, the ANF can seize property made from drug-money. The investigators were to inform the accused through the trial court about their steps.

Meanwhile, the trial court rejected post-arrest bail of Mirza Abdul Rehman and pre-arrest bail of two other accused Dr Arsalan and a store manager Riaz Ali, who were arrested by the ANF from the courtroom and shifted to a lock up for further investigation. Mirza Abdul Rehman was in jail already.

Later, the judge adjourned the court till July 13, 2013 and ordered the 15 accused to submit their responses in writing giving details of their source of income and explaining where they had obtained their assets from.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 7^th, 2013.