ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court (SC) has extended the interim bail of the main accused including Textile Industry Minister Makhdoom Shahabuddin and former Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani’s son Syed Ali Musa Gilani in the ephedrine import quota scandal case on Tuesday, Geo News reported.
A three-member bench of the SC headed by Justice Nasirul Mulk resumed hearing of the ephedrine quota today where both the accused were present.
Earlier upon arrival, MNA Ali Musa Gilani spoke to the media and expressed complete faith in the SC.
During today’s proceedings, the court granted bail extension to Ali Musa Gilani and Makhdoom Shahabuddin till 11th of October.
The counsel for Syed Ali Musa Gilani had filed a contempt petition against Anti-Narcotics Force (ANF) for allegedly harassing, manhandling and grossly insulting his client on Sept 13. The court combined the hearing of the contempt petition along with the ephedrine case hearing.
The ANF had submitted its reply terming the allegations leveled by Ali Musa Gilani for his manhandling at the gate of the apex court incorrect and stated that he was arrested in accordance with law.
Raja Shahid Mehmood Abbasi, counsel for the ANF contended that Lahore High Court (LHC) Rawalpindi bench rejected the bail application of Ali Musa Gilani in ephedrine case on Sept 9 but he remained in hiding for almost 11/12 days.
He said that ANF was not given any notice by the SC over the bail application of Ali Musa Gilani so the ANF team arrested him and then produced him before the court following the apex court orders.
On Sept 13, Ali Musa Gilani was arrested from the gate of the apex court by the ANF in ephedrine scam and produced him in the court but he was bailed out within a couple of hours. Against Musa’s arrest, his counsel moved the apex court with contentions that ANF dragged his client out of the vehicle.
The ANF further submitted that the accused was arrested as per law saying Section 46 of the CrPC clearly allows use of force by the law enforcer to arrest the accused and in case of resistance the official could use all means necessary to effect the arrest.
The ANF prayed to the apex court to dismiss the Gilani’s petition in the best interest of justice.
It is pertinent to mention here that on Sept 14, a three-member bench of the apex court accepted Ali Musa Gilani’s pre-arrest bail against two surety bonds of Rs0.5 million each and the petition was heard by the same bench today.