Former Prime Minister Raja Pervaiz Ashraf expressed his shock after alleged drug queenpin Anmol, also known as Pinky, mentioned his name during a recent court proceeding. Speaking on the floor of the National Assembly on Wednesday, Ashraf, a senior Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) leader, revealed that a video clip surfaced on May 18 in which the accused referred to him.
He stated he was taken aback by the reference and noted that Pinky later claimed she was coerced into making the allegation. Ashraf urged that such sensitive cases should not be publicized or circulated on social media until thorough investigations are completed. Emphasizing the principle of justice, he reminded the assembly that every Pakistani deserves the presumption of innocence until proven guilty through due legal process.
In response to Ashraf’s comments, National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq questioned Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar about whether cybercrime authorities should intervene against what was described as false propaganda. The law minister reaffirmed the House’s support for the senior PPP leader.
Pinky, accused of operating a drug trafficking network, was apprehended from her residence in Karachi’s Garden area. However, she denied the allegations, claiming she was initially detained in Lahore 15 days prior to being transferred to Karachi. Apart from narcotics charges, she is also facing murder accusations and remains in police custody under physical remand.
In a significant development, Sindh Inspector General of Police (IGP) Javed Alam Odho stated on Tuesday that the ongoing investigation into Pinky’s case could reveal several prominent names. He called on citizens to assist authorities in combating drug trafficking by coming forward to provide testimony.
Addressing a press conference in Karachi, IGP Odho announced the formation of a dedicated task force to handle the case. He also confirmed that multiple cases have been registered against Pinky, including those filed by the Anti-Narcotics Force (ANF), and indicated that the probe might expose numerous individuals connected to the narcotics trade.
