Former prime minister Raja Pervaiz Ashraf said he was deeply shocked after an alleged drug dealer mentioned his name during a court appearance. Speaking in the National Assembly on Wednesday, Raja Pervaiz Ashraf addressed the controversy and urged authorities and the public to avoid spreading unverified claims before investigations are completed.
The senior Pakistan Peoples Party leader said a video clip surfaced on May 18 in which Anmol alias Pinky referred to him during proceedings related to the ongoing drug case. Raja Pervaiz Ashraf told lawmakers he was surprised to hear his name being mentioned and questioned which Raja Pervaiz Ashraf the suspect was talking about.
He further stated that the woman later claimed she had been pressured into making the allegation. Raja Pervaiz Ashraf stressed that every citizen deserves fair treatment under the law and should be considered innocent until proven guilty through proper legal process.
The former premier also appealed to authorities and media platforms not to publicize such sensitive matters before the completion of investigations. He warned that social media trials can damage reputations without evidence or due process.
Following his remarks, National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq asked Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar whether cybercrime authorities should take action against what he called false propaganda circulating online. The law minister responded by expressing full support for Raja Pervaiz Ashraf and said the House stood by the senior PPP leader.
Anmol alias Pinky, who is accused of operating a narcotics network, was reportedly arrested from an apartment in Karachi’s Garden area. However, the suspect denied the police version and claimed she had actually been detained in Lahore nearly two weeks earlier before being shifted to Karachi.
Apart from narcotics-related charges, Pinky is also facing murder allegations. She remains in police custody under physical remand as investigations continue.
Meanwhile, Sindh Inspector General of Police Javed Alam Odho said the investigation could reveal several important names connected to the alleged drug network. Speaking at a press conference in Karachi, the police chief announced the formation of a special task force and urged the public to cooperate with authorities by providing information and testimony.
The Sindh police chief added that multiple cases had already been registered against Pinky, including cases filed by the Anti-Narcotics Force. He said the ongoing probe may expose more individuals allegedly linked to the narcotics trade.