ISLAMABAD – Perturb over the harsh criticism against him and his family (especially his son), Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani Thursday advised Anti-Narcotics Force (ANF) Regional Director Brigadier Fahim Ahmad Khan not to exceed his limits while investigating the Ephedrine quota case. “Avoid crossing your limits and work in accordance with the rules and regulations of the civilian government. You should keep in your mind that we (civilian government) have borrowed your services (from army); therefore, work accordingly,” Gilani remarked as referred to Brigadier Fahim, while inaugurating the newly-evolved Health Insurance Scheme of BISP (Benazir Income Support Programme).
Gilani said a particular group was targeting him and family just because of his continuous support to President Zardari.
On Thursday, the ANF named Ali Musa Gilani, a sitting MNA and son of Prime Minister Gilani, as an accused in the ephedrine case.
In the 23 page investigation report prepared for the Supreme Court, Brig Fahim informed the court that Musa was among the eight new suspects found involved in the Ephedrine quota case, adding that Prime Minister’s Principal Secretary Khushnood Akhtar Lashari and Narcotics Control Secretary Zafar Abbas Lak were also included the list.
The report said the PM house used influence in the allotment of ephedrine quota that was in violation of the already defined laws of United Nations.
The development came a day after Gilani asked his son Ali Musa Gilani to shorten his honeymoon and return to Pakistan to face allegations in connection with the scam.
Analysts believe that the prime minister is not working within the constitutional ambit and his warning to Brig Fahim reflects disrespect for rule of law, as the investigators should be allowed to hold free and fair inquiry into the scam.
Meanwhile, Gilani said at the BISP function that all the predictions of political pundits regarding the dissolution of the government were proving to be just a hoax, as the reality was completely different.
He maintained that despite ‘these predictions’, the present government had not only managed to deliver but also helped to let the world know that democracy was making progress in Pakistan.
“We have democracy in Pakistan with no more threats of coup. Credit goes to the PPP leadership that it has succeeded in strengthening the institutions and brought the country into the list of the countries, which are making progress,” Gilani remarked.
He also expressed his disappointment at the conspiracies hatched against the Senate polls and by-elections, and said everyone sailed through smoothly and the warnings of tsunami were proven wrong. But it seemed that nobody to have learned the lesson yet, he added.
Gilani said the BISP’s project of life and health insurance for the poor was one of his most cherished dreams, as he lauded the BISP as a world level programme.
He recalled that initially, the BISP seemed to be quite a daunting of tasks, which was accomplished by forming a board of serving ministers.
“For the first time ever, every MNA was provided with 8,000 (BISP) forms in true spirit of democracy,” he said
Gilani further said that the government had to face an intense spat of criticism at internal and external fronts, which was faced solemnly.