Pak Anti Terrorist Court Acquits Interior Minister Sanaulah

The Anti-terrorism court of Pakistan Acquitted Interior Minister in a threat case made to then Punjab chief secretary, his family, and other officers. The decision to acquit the senior Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader came after the then Punjab chief Secretary altered his statements.

After the court hearing, Rana Sanaullah spoke to reporters and asserted that he fearlessly appeared before judges without using any form of concealment like “buckets” over one’s head. He stated that all PML-N leaders, including himself, cooperated with the court and did not engage in any dramatic actions or disrupt court proceedings.

Earlier, in February, the Anti-terrorism court had issued an arrest warrant for Sanaullah and asked the police to present him on March 7. However, in March, Sanaullah requested an exemption from appearing in court due to official engagements, which the court did not grant initially. Eventually, the court suspended the warrants and allowed him to submit surety bonds worth Pakistani Rupees (PKR) 100,000.

The case against Rana Sanaullah was lodged under various sections of the Anti-Terrorism Act and the Pakistan Penal Code, including acts of terrorism, obstructing public servants from discharging their duties, threatening injury to public servants, and criminal intimidation during Imran Khan regime. The FIR stated that Sanaullah made threatening remarks on a TV show with the intention to terrorize the judiciary, chief secretary, commissioner, and people of the country, aiming to hinder officials from fulfilling their lawful responsibilities.

The complainant expressed that Sanaullah’s remarks had created fear among the judiciary, bureaucracy, police, administration, and the nation and called for an investigation against the PML-N leader. However, the Anti-terrorism court acquitted Rana Sanaullah based on the altered statements of the plaintiffs.