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* SC seeks complete record from ANF regarding investigation into granting out-of-turn quota for two pharmaceutical companies under influence of Musa Gilani
ISLAMABAD: Name of Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani’s son Ali Musa Gilani has surfaced in a Rs 7 billion drug scandal on Thursday.
The Supreme Court (SC) sought complete record from the Anti-Narcotics Force about granting out-of-turn quota for ingredient of medicine to two pharmaceutical companies by the Federal Health Ministry allegedly under the influence of Ali Musa Gilani.
A three-member bench – headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry – was hearing a civil petition, filed by the Islamabad Anti Narcotics Force (ANF) regional director versus Rizwan Ahmed Khan and others.
The court was informed that in violation of rules, quota of an ingredient for a medicine ‘ephedrine’ for cold, flu and asthma was granted and instead of 1,000 kilogrammes (kg) a quantity of 9,000kgs was allowed to Berlex Labs International and Denis Pharmaceutical. The ingredient – also known as “poor man’s cocaine”– was given to smugglers who spread it to drug addicts across Pakistan.
The matter was raised in the Lower House in 2009 where then health minister Makhdoom Shahabuddin formed a committee to give recommendations. Later, on the committee’s recommendations, the ANF initiated investigation against 10 people, including Dr Rashid Juma, Iftikhar Ahmed Babar, Rizwan Ahmed Khan, Ihsanur Rehman, Tanvirul Hassan Shirazi, Chaudhry Abdul Waheed, Ansar Farooq Chaudhry, Col (r) Tahir Lahoti, Muhammad Hashim Khan and Tauqir Ali Khan.
At the beginning of the hearing, Shahid Mehmood Abbasi, counsel for the ANF, submitted that ANF Force Commander Brigadier Fahim intended to withdraw the petition.
The CJP asked Fahim, “Who gave you authority to withdraw the case? Under what reasons you have decided to withdraw the petition? Something is wrong in the bottom.” The CJP asked him further, “Are you scared as you should set an example in this case?” Brigadier Fahim replied he was not scared and would not withdraw the case.
Fahim told the bench that after the investigation of the matter, Tauqir Ahmed Khan’s name was surfaced – who under the pretext of Musa’s personal secretary – got the quota approved. The Federal Health Ministry passed the quota in violation of rules.
Upon the CJP’s directions, he also read the inquiry committee’s report, saying that both the companies misused the quota and sold the ingredient to smugglers.
According to the report, every pharmaceutical company was entitled to get a quantity of 500kgs of the ingredient used in ephedrine, but the ministry ignored 20 companies and granted 9000kgs quota to only two companies.
The ANF deputy director told the court that he had issued a notice to Musa on March 12, 2011, adding that neither Musa nor Tauqir appeared so far.
The court adjourned the hearing until April 20.
