ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Hanif Abbasi has been in the limelight recently as the petitioner in a Supreme Court case against Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf chief Imran Khan.

But the former MNA from Rawalpindi seems to be in hot water with the authorities, as the Anti Narcotics Force (ANF) has sought details of all his assets, financial transactions and bank accounts.

However, Mr Abbasi has challenged the ANF letter before the Lahore High Court (LHC).

The request comes as his trial in the ephedrine case is nearing a conclusion.

Former Pindi MNA moves LHC in response, claims move will prolong matter unnecessarily

The letter sent to Abbasi on August 10, 2017 states: “Anti Narcotics Force is conducting an inquiry into the assets of accused Mohammad Hanif Abbasi… and his family members/relatives/associates, which they have suspectedly (sic) acquired through drug proceed[s].”

The anti-drug agency has sought details of the accounts and assets of Mr Abbasi, his wife, son and two daughters, as well as his brother Mohammad Basit Abbasi.

ANF has also asked him to provide details of assets owned by him and his family, restraining him from disposing of or transferring any of these assets without the prior approval of the anti-narcotics agency.

In addition, the force has sought details of loans Mr Abbasi had procured, insurance agreements, investments and the premiums thereof.

The family has additionally been asked to provide ANF with the serial numbers of any money transfers, cheques, bank drafts, telegraphic transfers and details of any foreign remittances they may have received.

In his petition before the LHC, however, Mr Abbasi contended that at a time when his trial was nearing completion, such an exercise would unnecessarily prolong the case on for an indefinite period.

According to the petition, this would be tantamount of reopening the entire case and would be a source of anxiety for him and his family members.

Hanif and Basit Abbasi are both accused in the ephedrine case, which is related to the misuse of the controlled chemical.

A Control of Narcotics Substance (CNS) court has heard the testimony of nearly all prosecution witnesses; the last of whom will record his statement on August 25.

Mr Abbasi is accused of ‘misusing’ 500kg of the controlled substance, which he obtained in 2010for his pharmaceutical company, Gray Pharmaceutical.

Instead of using it to manufacture medicine, the PML-N leader sold it to narcotics smugglers, the ANF alleged.

ANF had registered a case against Mr Abbasi and his accomplices in June 2012 under various sections of the CNS Act and a CNS court indicted Mr Abbasi, his brother and other suspects in 2014.

Published in Dawn, August 18th, 2017