LHC suspends Hanif Abbasi’s sentence in ephedrine quota case

LAHORE: The Lahore High Court (LHC) on Thursday suspended life imprisonment sentence awarded to Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Hanif Abbasi, in ephedrine quota case and ordered his release.

A two-judge bench headed by Justice Aalia Neelum heard Abbasi’s bail petition, here today.

At outset of the hearing in the LHC, public prosecutor said in his arguments that Abbasi illegally sold 137 kg of ephedrine to Grace Pharmaceutical Company.

To this, PML-N leader’s counsel said his client was awarded sentence by the lower court by neglecting the facts of the case. “Ephedrine was sold to different company through legal procedure”, he added.

The honuorable bench after listening to the arguments from both sides, suspended Abbasi’s sentence and ordered his release in the case.

Read more: Convicted Hanif Abbasi challenges verdict of Anti-Narcotics Court

The PML-N leader was arrested just four days before the general election in the country last year. A former MNA, Abbasi was to contest the 2018 general election from NA-60 Rawalpindi.

Anti-Narcotics Force (ANF) had registered a case against Abbasi and others in June 2012 under sections 9-C, 14 and 15 of the Control of Narcotics Substances (CNS) Act for misuse of 500kg of ephedrine.

Hanif Abbasi was awarded life term sentence by a special anti-narcotics court on June 22, while seven other accused were acquitted due to lack of evidence..