PML(N) leader Rana Sanaullah got post-arrest bail from Lahore High Court but the Federal Government has announced its plans to challenge the decision of the High Court in the Supreme Court. Announcing this, Minister for States and Frontier Regions and Narcotics Control Shehryar Afridi dispelled the impression that the case against Rana was politically motivated.
There are clear contradictions in statements and actions of the government leaders as far as accountability process or other cases against the opposition leaders are concerned. In this case too, the former Punjab Law Minister was arrested on the Ist of July by the ANF Lahore team while he was travelling from Faisalabad to Lahore near the Ravi Toll Plaza on motorway, claiming to have seized 15kg heroin from his vehicle. A special team of the force had also arrested five others, including the driver and security guards of the PML-N leader, who were released in September but their release was not taken notice of by the officials concerned. Rana too has been released on bail and not acquitted but the way the government ministers have reacted to his release smacks of political enmity. Shehryar sarcastically described grant of much-delayed bails to several opposition leaders as ‘season of bails’ giving wrong connotations to the judicial process. Another cabinet member called it a unique judgement of Lahore High Court whereas the verdict is not unique in any sense of the word. Suspicion arises when government leaders offer uncalled-for remarks predicting arrests of opposition leaders or unnecessarily react to their bails and release. There are legitimate complaints that the opposition leaders are rounded up first and charges against them are searched and framed afterwards. In this case too, the prosecution could not furnish any worthwhile evidence against Rana Sanaullah despite lapse of six months and even the claim about possession of video turned out to be a hoax.
