RAWALPINDI: A Control of Narcotics Substances Court (CNSC) on Saturday sentenced Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Hanif Abbasi to life imprisonment in the ephedrine quota case.
According to reports, Abbasi has been taken into custody from within the court room.
He has been disqualified to contest the upcoming general elections after being declared guilty by the court.
Moreover, the court acquitted seven other accused in the case giving them a ‘benefit of doubt’.
Earlier today, CNSC judge Muhammad Akram Khan reserved judgment after Abbasi’s counsel concluded his arguments.
The court on Friday had rejected the PML-N leader’s plea to extend the deadline t0 complete trial.
Abbasi is facing charges for misusing 500kg of the controlled chemical ephedrine, which he obtained in 2010, and selling it to narcotics smugglers.
The case was registered against Abbasi in 2012 under relevant sections of the Control of Narcotics Substances (CNS) Act.
Abbasi was contesting elections on the PML-N ticket for the National Assembly seat NA-60 opposite to Sheikh Rasheed.