The Lahore High Court (LHC) on Wednesday overturned Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Hanif Abbasi’s conviction in the ephedrine case and declared the life sentence handed down to him void, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.
A two-member LHC bench, comprising Justice Aalia Neelum and Justice Asjad Javed Ghural, pronounced the reserved judgement.
Hafeezur Rehman Chaudhry, Ahsan Bhoon and other lawyers appeared before the court on behalf of Hanif Abbasi.
Hanif Abbasi had filed an appeal in the LHC against the life sentence in the ephedrine case.
While commenting on the acquittal of Hanif Abbasi, former prime minister and PML-N President Shehbaz Sharif said in a statement on X: “Alhamdulillah! Hanif Abbasi has been acquitted today in a fabricated and baseless case.”
He added: “This acquittal is actually the acquittal from the lie that Nawaz Sharif, and every male and female leader and worker who supported him, had to face for many years, but eventually the truth comes out.”
He stated: “Hanif Abbasi and his family faced a very dangerous charge with great courage, bravery and determination. The PML-N pays tribute to Hanif Abbasi and his family. Congratulations on your acquittal.”
https://twitter.com/CMShehbaz/status/1714537501711597774
PML-N Vice President and Chief Organiser Maryam Nawaz said in her statement on X: “Praise be to God! The court has acquitted Hanif Bhai today and admitted his innocence.”
She added: “There was a lot of agitation among the workers on the life sentence, handed down to Hanif Abbasi, based on injustice. But, Hanif Bhai stopped the workers from extreme measures and gave arrest bravely and boldly.”
She stated: “I personally know that Hanif Bhai was told ‘If you leave Nawaz Sharif, you can go home’. But, Hanif Bhai’s answer was ‘I would prefer death to leaving Nawaz Sharif’.”
Maryam Nawaz said that Hanif Abbasi’s bravery and loyalty to Nawaz Sharif could not be forgotten, adding that his family had faced the dark night of oppression with patience and exemplary courage.
She said that even the job of Hanif Abbasi’s son had been taken away. “Allah has delivered us from the dark period of oppression and political revenge, Alhamdulillah.”
Reporters: Malik Ashraf and Awais Kiyani