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Ephedrine case: SC rejects Musa Gilani's plea
ISLAMABAD: Supreme Court of Pakistan (SC) resumed hearing of chemical (ephedrine) quota allotment case today (Tuesday) and rejected Ali Musa Gilani’s plea to replace the investigating officer, Brig Faheem, in the case, Geo News reported.A three-member bench of the apex court headed by Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry resumed hearing of the case.
Brig Faheem, the chief investigator in ephedrine scam, told the court that two accused have already fled from the country as their names were not included in the exit control list (ECL) on timely basis.
He told that Federal Investigating Agency (FIA) is pressurizing them to save Khushnood Lashari.
On this, Justice Khilji Arif told Big Faheem to carry on fair investigation into the matter.
An employee of Health Ministry, Tanveer Ahmed, told that he was forced to record his statement after he was taken hostage. On this, the CJ asked him to give his written statement and told that the court will issue notices to FIA and the one who recorded the statement.
It is pertinent to mention that in the last hearing, the apex court had overruled the orders of Secretary Narcotics Control Division, while ordering Anti Narcotics Force to continue probe into the case that allegedly involves Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani’s son Ali Musa Gilani.
Earlier on Monday, Musa Gilani recorded contradictory statements before the anti-Narcotics Force (ANF) and the Supreme Court.
Before the ANF, he reposed confidence in Brig Faheem in ephedrine scam whereas in the SC, he showed total no-trust.
According to the sources privy to the investigation, junior Gilani told the ANF investigators that he did not feel any trouble during the course of the examination and trusts Brig Faheem, notwithstanding the contrary advice by his lawyer. “I feel comfortable. I donít have any problem. I trust Brig Faheem contrary to the advice of my lawyer who suggested me to pose no confidence,” Ali Musa is said to have told the ANF investigators.
Meanwhile, his lawyer, Salman Akram Raja, filed a concise statement before the Supreme Court requesting a replacement of Brig Faheem, saying his position has become controversial after submitting an affidavit giving his side of the story regarding the investigation and the allegations framed against the PMís son.
As junior Gilani appeared before the ANF team on Monday, PMís special assistant and Musaís ëlegal adviserí Fawad Chaudhry also tried to sneak in. He was, however, denied permission by the investigators who instead advised him to stay outside.
Later, Fawad Chaudhry told The News that he knew the process and did not try to enter the investigation room. Regarding contradictory stand, junior Gilani took before the ANF and the Supreme Court, Fawad Chaudhry said the application before the court is of technical nature as after depositing statement before the SC, Brig Faheem will be a witness in case it is decided to cross-examine his statement.
It was second appearance of junior Gilani before the ANF team on Monday. Last time, he appeared on the day his father, Prime Minister Gilani, was convicted by the Supreme Court. On Monday, Musa Gilani requested the ANF not to issue his summon to avoid negative media publicity. ìI am just a call away.
You make me a call, tell me the date, and I would come,î he is said to have requested to the ANF who agreed to comply with his suggestion. Junior Gilani was also asked about his family’s relations with Dr Rasheed Jumma, former DG Health who is said to have treated his grand mother in Agha Khan Hospital. Ali Musa confirmed that Dr Jumma was neurosurgeon at that time.
However, he said a doctor from US was called in for operating on his grand mother. When asked by the investigators of his age at the time of the grand-motherís operation, junior Gilani rang up his mother for the answer who said he was 14-year old at that time. He was also asked about Tauqeer Ali Khan, his alleged PA, who is said to have issued instructions on his behalf and had been visiting the relevant offices for ephedrine quota, Musa Gilani simply refused to recognise the man, let alone admitting any relationship with him.
It may be recalled that Secretary Narcotics Force, through an official letter sent on March 22, had directed the ANF to seek his prior approval before issuing summons to Tauqeer and ëa political figureí, a reference to Ali Musa Gilani.When asked about his alleged involvement in the ephedrine drug quota, junior Gilani feigned ignorance and said he heard its name for the first time when the scandal surfaced.
Courtesy www.geo.tv