\u00a0Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah Saturday has been acquitted by a special court in Lahore in a drugs smuggling case filed against him in 2019.
\nSanaullah was arrested on July 01, 2019, by the Anti-Narcotics Force (ANF) Lahore team near Ravi Toll Plaza on the motorway. He was travelling from Faisalabad to Lahore.
\nThe ANF claimed to have recovered 15kg of heroin from his vehicle, while it arrested five others, including Sanaullah’s driver and security guards.
\nHe was sent on judicial remand the next day by the court.
\nSanaullah remained incarcerated for six months until the Lahore High Court (LHC) granted him bail on December 24, 2019.
\nThe then PTI government drew heavy fire from the opposition and was alleged of carrying out a political witch-hunt against rivals. The Imran Khan-led regime, however, denied having a hand in Sanaullah’s arrest.
\nThe PML-N leader had filed a plea in the court seeking acquittal today and sought an early hearing. The court then fixed the hearing for 2pm.
\nAt the outset of the hearing, Prosecutor Danish Mashkoor informed the court that he has resigned and was no more associated with the case. “I can not sign off witnesses’ statement.”
\nAfter this, the remaining two prosecutors signed the document.
\nRana Sanaullah’s counsel, Advocate Farhad Shah, argued before the court that two witnesses in the case have retracted their statements. \u201cThey were witnesses of the recovery memo,\u201d the defence informed the court and added, \u201cThe prosecution has no case to prove\u201d.
\nThe court then announced the verdict acquitting Rana Sanaullah and other co-accused Sibtain, Usman, Amir, and Akram from the drugs smuggling case.
\nIn response, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said of all the PML-N leaders targeted by the Khan-led regime, Sanaullah’s case was the “worst example” of political persecution with the most dangerous repercussions.
\n“He braved these heinous charges and repression with patience and remained steadfast. He is an inspiration for all political workers.”<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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