- ANF fails to satisfy PTI cabinet
PML-N Punjab President Rana Sanaullah was bailed out by Lahore High Court on the ground of several lapses in the case filed by the Anti Narcotics Force (ANF). Despite being kept in prison for six months avowedly without normal facilities provided in the jail manual to the inmates, the Rana remains defiant. The way he was arrested and accused of heroin smuggling and kept in jail without producing evidence before the anti-narcotics court had given birth to several questions. Some of his critics and political rivals were unwilling to buy the story about his involvement in narcotics smuggling. Sections in the media too had cast doubts about the veracity of the case. Meanwhile opposition leaders belonging to different parties targeted the PTI government, particularly the PM, for being responsible to get a fabricated case registered against the former Punjab Law Minister.
On Tuesday, the DG ANF was called to the Federal Cabinet meeting and subjected to questioning by important ministers including Tariq Bashir Cheema, Fawad Chaudhry, Shireen Mazari, and Interior Minister Brig (R) Ijaz Shah. Avowedly every one of these leaders expressed dissatisfaction over the way the ANF had prepared its case. Reportedly ANF minister of state Shehryar Afridi passed the buck to the DG ANF, saying that whatever he narrated was told to him by the DG ANF under oath.
The DG ANF claimed that Rana Sanaullah’s assets are worth Rs 25 to Rs 30 billion. Rana Sanaullah has raised serious questions about the claim. Supposing the ANF stand is correct, the case should have been sent to NAB for enquiry into possessing assets beyond means rather than taken up by the ANF with unusual zeal. To maintain that the ANF’s case suffered from serious lapses because its lawyer is paid Rs0.1 million per month while Rana Sanaullah is represented by a retired judge raises questions about the ANF’s competence. The plea before the Cabinet left many unconvinced.
The ANF is an important national asset. It is all the more reason for it to be seen both as independent and competent. In case the ANF loses its case in the court, questions are likely to be raised regarding other cases it has dealt with.
