Daily Times

Leader of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PMLN) Khawaja Saad Rafique has called the verdict of special anti-narcotics court against Hanif Abbasi similar to the decisions given by the courts on Bhutto case and former prime minister Nawaz Sharif hijacking case.

A special anti-narcotics court sentenced Hanif Abbasi to life in ephedrine quota case on Saturday, just four days before the general elections in the country. Abbasi, who was contesting the upcoming election from NA-60 Rawalpindi, faced charges of misusing 500 kilogramme of the controlled chemical ephedrine, which he obtained for his company, Gray Pharmaceutical, in 2010.

Addressing a press conference with Jamiat Ulema-e-Pakistan (JUP) Leader Shah Owais Noorani, he said there will be questions if verdicts are given late at 11pm. JUP Leader Shah Owais Noorani extended his party’s support to PMLN Leader Khawaja Saad Rafique against Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan for the forthcoming election. “Our workers will campaign for Khawaja Saad Rafique. His services for Pakistan Railway is a matter of pride,” he added.

Saad Rafique said that Abbasi faced grave injustice, adding that he doesn’t have time to respond to PTI Chairman Imran Khan’s statements but he can only pray for his guidance.

“I can say it confidently that PML-N will win all national and provincial seats of Lahore,” he added. “We will give a landmark defeat to PTI,” Rafique said.

Published in Daily Times, July 23^rd 2018.