ISLAMABAD: Former prime minister and PPP leader Raja Pervez Ashraf on Wednesday reacted to alleged drug baroness Anmol alias Pinky purportedly naming him as a client, saying that he had led a “spotless life”.
A recent video of the suspect during a court appearance had gone viral on social media, in which she can be heard saying the name “Raja Pervez”, before her voice is drowned out by the police officials accompanying her. However, a separate video has also emerged, in which her lawyer allegedly told reporters that she was being pressured into taking the names of certain politicians.
It is worth mentioning that on May 18, during a court appearance, the suspect asserted she was facing pressure “to take names”.
Speaking on the floor of the National Assembly on Wednesday, Ashraf recalled the video in which he was purportedly named.
“However, after 30 minutes, her lawyers, in a separate clip, explained that she was being pressured to take my name,” he added.
The PPP leader expressed surprise at having any association with the alleged drug dealer, saying, “When I heard the name, I thought perhaps it is a different Raja Pervez Ashraf.”
“Soon after the video, people started commenting on the incident on social media and making vlogs about it,” Ashraf said, expressing gratitude to his “family, party leaders, and the political opposition”, who he said came to defend and vouch for his character.
“I have led a spotless life. I have served as a former prime minister and former NA speaker,” he said. He added that the suspect had also taken the name of “another personality”, adding that perhaps this was done to “deflect attention”.
“I present myself for any probe in this regard,” he added.
Ashraf called for the development of a mechanism to regulate commentary on social media while an investigation was ongoing. He noted that even his political opponents stood in solidarity with him. He reiterated his call for a “mechanism or legal framework” to prevent any further such incidents.
The PPP leader held that it was unfair to put people and their families under mental duress by partaking in such accusations.
“I have faith that a solution can be found,” he said, adding that there should not be a “media trial” of the innocent until proven guilty.
As the PPP leader brought attention to the matter, NA Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq called on Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar to present his point of view.
In his comments, Tarar expressed solidarity with Ashraf, stressing that the accusation was “so frivolous in nature that no one here would ever pay heed to it”.
“The entire house stands with you,” Tarar said, suggesting that perhaps the suspect was attempting to divert attention away from her case.
Tarar maintained that the matter would be taken to Information Minister Attaullah Tarar, as well as the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority, vowing that “action will be taken at the state level”.
