LAHORE: A special court for control of narcotics substance (CNS) on Saturday delayed indictment of PML-N MNA Rana Sanaullah Khan in a 15kg drug recovery case and sought arguments on an application by the defence for provision of copies of the witnesses’ statements by the prosecution.

At the outset of the hearing, presiding judge Justice Shakir Hassan reminded the defence and prosecution of the indictment.

However, Advocate Farhad Ali Shah, on behalf of Mr Khan, submitted that the prosecution had not provided them with copies of the witnesses’ statements.

He also filed a written application in this regard and said the provision of the copies was necessary to ensure requisites of a fair trial.

A prosecutor of Anti-Narcotics Force (ANF) opposed the application and said the defence was trying to delay the proceedings. He said all details would be available on record once the charges were framed on the suspect.

The judge adjourned further hearing till March 28 and directed both sides to come up with concluding arguments on the point. Other five co-suspects in the case also made their appearance before the court along with their lawyers.

Talking to media outside the court, Mr Khan said PML-N president Shahbaz Sharif would return to the country by the end of March as a heart procedure of former prime minister Nawaz Sharif was due during the current month.

To a query about opposition’s strategy against the government, he said the opposition had declared 2020 the year of midterm election and would try to ensure it. Otherwise, he said, “the incompetent” team of the government would ruin the country. He regretted that the top priority of the government was only to bring back Nawaz Sharif.

To another query about Aurat March, Mr Khan expressed his full support to the march and the struggle of the women for their rights.

He also alleged that the ANF tortured a number of drug dealers of Faisalabad only to extract their statements against him.

Published in Dawn, March 8th, 2020