Guddi Baji, Makhdooms squabbling over Ephedrine share

Guddi Baji , Makhdooms squabbling over Ephedrine share

M RAYYAN AHMED

RAWALPINDI: Long arm of the law seems to move at a snail’s pace when it comes to elitist ruling families of the country but it moves like a bullet train for the ordinary man even of their life and death matter is at stake and one such example in this regard is the seven billion rupees Ephedrine case which involved a convicted former prime minister Yusuf Raza Gilani and power thirsty Makhdooms Shahbuddin and of course their families. ANF court on Saturday issued an order to both the Gilanis’ and Makhdooms to submit in writing details of their assets and the sources of income to justify those assets. Both the families are custodians of shrines belonging to their revered forefathers since British raj days thus holding huge tracts of lands in Multan and Rahim Yar Khan respectively. We have recently seen Makhdoom of Hala Sharif; Amin Fahim coming out of the insurance company scam stating innocently that he did not know how millions of rupees ended up in his wife and his accounts while dealing with the NICL issue during his days in ministry. But the issue here is not licensing like Amin Fahim had to deal with but issue here is issuance of 9500kgs of precious drug like Ephedrine, which is primarily used as a Chinese herb for treatment of shortness of breath and increasing the flow of blood in various organs of the body. According to the details so far revealed in the court by two of the approvers, out of 17 accused in this case, 2500kgs were issued on verbal orders of Makhdoom Shahbuddin while the rest has been manipulated by Guddi Baji and his sons by using the influence of her husband who happened to be the prime minister of the country. The excessive quotas, in violation of the International Narcotics Control Board (INCB) were issued around 2010. But Anti Narcotics Force (ANF) did not raise any eyebrow on this violation of
the book until they were reminded by the higher judiciary to find out that how huge quotas were issued to two companies? The companies involved, as per the prime witnesses, are Danas Pharmaceutical and Berlex Lab International. Both are learnt to have not only strong Multan connection but had moved through the good private offices of Guddi Baji where her two sons Musa Gilani and Qadir Gilani--the later being also the son in law of Pir of Pagaro Sharif-- were operating as facilitators for such financers. Guddi Baji is the pet name of Fauzia Gilani because most of the socialite and business circles used to revere by calling her by this name instead of taking her real name, informed many witnesses who has seen the private galore of the Baji in her hey days, while living in Hussnain Construct Companies donated houses of Lahore, their ancestral houses and newly built villas in Multan or in the hilly serene atmospheres of Capital. But the buck does not seem to be
stopping here. Lately, our entrenched sources confirmed that Makhdooms' and Gilanis’ have developed some differences over the share of the alleged loot supposedly dumped upon them by the ANF court. ANF records show that Makhdooms ancestral lands in Rahim Yar Khan and his 22 bank accounts have been put on hold till the final verdict of the case. Makhdooms are concerned with these developments because now Multan DCO has also been asked to provide details of all their moveable and immoveable assets to ANF court. Though they have moved to Lahore High court for claiming back these lands stating that these huge lands which gives them multifold advantages ranging from political clout to Peer sahib’s status have all come to him through inheritance from his forefathers, therefore, should not be put under ANF control or attached with Ephedrine case. Now Gilanis’ have been asked to furnish their assets and sources, Makhdooms are feeling some comfort but
still want Gilanis to ascertain the share proportions. Sources confirmed that both have paid a good chunk of their share to “Addi” a revered lady from Larkana with a blood relation to Presidency. Gilanis, who already have the distinction of earning the title of first MBBS (Mian Biwi Bachon Samait, meaning literally husband, wife, kids all involved) family who remained in the PM house for the longest of time as elected chief executive are looking to use Pir of Pagaro’s connection to hush-hush the matter for the time being. Pir Pagaro is related to Gilanis because Qadir Gilani is married to the granddaughter of Pagaro. Remember, Pagaro sain is in league with the Muslim League these days. So will this entire episode be a dog-tail spin or will it be rounded off just like Makhdoom Amin Fahim had to return one transaction of many shoddy deals to ensure that nothing else is probed? No one knows for sure because besides having all the right connections at the right places and knowing very well that birds of feather flock together, superior judiciary remains the question mark for all the striped-Zebras from across the political divide. Yet, sources believe that Makhdooms want to sort out the share issue before it gets too late and even the League connections might back out fearing the superior judiciary. But as the cards are unfolding, message from Presidency has been sent to both the involved parties that they should sort out their own mess without looking towards Larkana’s revered lady, who has just returned to the house from the same seat which happens to be the political citadel of Bhutto including late Benazir Bhutto. Will they or will they not remains a question now for a Presidency which knows very well that all their immunities are going to die out by coming September when the term of the President’s office expires. Keep your fingers crossed and eyes open to see the developments and read them here.