950817

LHC rejects

MNA's bail

in drug case

RECORDER REPORT

LAHORE: A division bench of the Lahore High Court here on Thursday dismissed the bail application of MNA Munawar Manj undergoing investigations by Anti-Narcotics Task Force under allegations of drug trafficking.

The bench, comprising Justice Munir A. Sheikh and Justice Tasadduq Hussain Gilani announced this verdict after hearing at length the arguments by counsel for the petitioner Raja Anwar.

A ruling party MNA, Munawwar Manj had been arrested in April this year by special task force for anti-narcotics, working directly under Federal Interior Minister Naseerullah Khan Babar. He was accused of patronizing drug trafficking in his area.

Munawwar, rebutting the allegation, said that he had been victimized because of his political rivalry with the Punjab PPP chief Malik Mushtaq Ahmad Khan Awan, who also hails from Sheikhupura district.

Munawwar initially moved the sessions court for bail but his application was rejected by the court. Then he moved the High Court where his bail was dismissed on Thursday.

ACTING CJ ABSENCE

A local lawyer, M.D. TaHir, has moved the Lahore High Court praying that since the Acting Chief Justice of LHC had gone to the United States, and the President of Pakistan had not nominated a new Acting Chief Justice, the court proceedings from August 15 to August 17 may be declared illegal, void and against the Constitution.

The Court of Justice Munir A Sheikh will take up this matter on Sunday next.