ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani took his cabinet into confidence on Wednesday on the ephedrine imports scam and refuted allegations about involvement of his son and MNA Syed Ali Musa Gilani.

The prime minister termed the accusations a malicious campaign against his son and other members of his family.

“Earlier, my elder son Syed Abdul Qadir Gilani, MPA, was implicated in the Haj scam,” the prime minister said, adding: “The Chief Justice of Pakistan in this case has directed authorities to register a case against the MNA who levelled allegations merely on the basis of hearsay.” The prime minister said that several inquiries, including the one by Senate’s Standing Committee on Interior, made no mention in its findings about any influence used by Syed Ali Musa Gilani.

“The Chairman of Senate Standing Committee on Interior constituted another committee consisting of a joint team of experts of FIA, Chairman of Quality Control and Federal Inspector Drugs to ascertain the substance used by pharmaceutical companies in the country. The report of this committee has also reached the same conclusions with no mention of Syed Ali Musa Gilani,” the prime minister said.

Details of various enquires were presented to the cabinet, including a Joint Investigation Committee constituted by the then Minister of Health.

The cabinet was informed that ephedrine was dealt under the Drugs Act, 1976, and not under the Control of Narcotics Substance Act, 1977, while there was no evidence in Pakistan that ephedrine was used to manufacture ecstasy or cocaine as there was no such facility was ever traced in the country.

Briefing reporters on the matters discussed at the meeting, Information Minister Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan said that cabinet members expressed grave concern over the character assassination of members of the prime minister’s family.

She criticised the PML-N over remarks made by its leaders and their call for a political change in country.“Those who want to bring about a change should rather go for local government elections in their province and results will show which party is popular and the same procedure will judge the standing of political parties in the general elections,” she said.

“Only one province wants to judge the popular mandate -- now under the law provinces are authorised to announce local bodies’ elections and they should do it now.”

The minister accused the Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif of violating the Constitution.

“Somebody who is a CM and openly says that he does not recognise the President clearly shows that this man does not recognise the federation which means that he is flouting the Constitution,” Dr Awan said.

A budget strategy paper for 2012-13 and projections up to 2014-15 were also presented at the cabinet meeting, but the prime minister said that budget would be prepared on the basis of recommendations made by representatives of the people.

A separate meeting of the cabinet would be convened to discuss budget-related matters.

Similarly, the case of Pakistan Steel Mills bailout package was deferred for the next meeting of the cabinet.