The Lahore High Court on Tuesday granted bail to former Punjab law minister and Member National Assembly Rana Sanaullah in a narcotics case lodged after Anti-Narcotics Force (ANF) recovered 15-kg heroin from his vehicle. Justice Chaudhry Mushtaq Ahmad had reserved the verdict a day before after the special prosecutor and the Rana's counsel had concluded their arguments.

The counsel of Rana Sana a day before had argued before the court that the petitioner was implicated in a false case on political grounds as he had been a strong critic of the government. The counsel said the petitioner, before his arrest, had frequently expressed apprehensions of his arrest on different television programs. He presented some news clippings and columns published in different newspapers regarding apprehensions about the arrest of the petitioner.

He said the CCTV footage recovered from Punjab Safe City Authority contradicted the story of the prosecution. He said the FIR he was lounged late and according to the FIR Rana was booked for smuggling of 21 kilograms of heroin, whereas later the actual weight of the captured narcotics was declared 15 kilograms.

A prosecutor however said second bail petition could not be filed on new grounds. He said the defence admitted whole events of the FIR except recovery of the heroin.

The prosecutor argued that the trial could be concluded within one month if the LHC issued a direction. He further argued that the offence against the petitioner was non bailable.

He said the petitioner, if innocent, will be acquitted in trial, and asked the court to dismiss the bail petition. On October 02 last Rana Sana had filed a bail petition in the LHC which was withdrawn to file the same at a later stage. Earlier this month, Sanullah once again approached the LHC for post-arrest bail.

A special court for Control of Narcotics Substance (CNS) on September 20 last had also dismissed a bail petition of Rana Sanaullah while releasing five co-suspects. On November 9, the special court had also dismissed another Rana's bail petition.

On July 01 last, Rana Sanaullah was arrested by the ANF after the discovery of a large stash of contraband in his vehicle near the Sukheke while travelling with his guards from Faisalabad to Lahore. The next day, he was sent to jail on judicial remand by a local magistrate.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2019