Summary Raja Pervaiz Ashraf denies allegations linked to a drug dealer case and urged safeguards against unverified public accusations.
ISLAMABAD (Web Desk) – Raja Pervaiz Ashraf said a female drug dealer had falsely linked his name to a case, adding that her lawyer later claimed pressure had been exerted to mention him.
Speaking during a session of the National Assembly of Pakistan, Raja Pervaiz Ashraf said he had lived an unblemished life and criticised the practice of publicly naming individuals before investigations were completed.
He said the woman had initially named another individual before mentioning him and stressed the need for a proper system to prevent respected people from being defamed through unverified allegations.
The former prime minister said the woman later issued a clarification, but discussions and accusations continued circulating on social media.
Raja Pervaiz Ashraf called for clear boundaries for social media platforms, saying baseless allegations were unacceptable morally and socially.
He added that such accusations also affected the families of public figures and thanked Speaker Ayaz Sadiq for taking notice of the matter.
Speaker Ayaz Sadiq said action had already been initiated against a vlogger who made allegations inside the National Assembly, questioning whether people spreading false accusations should also face legal action.
He said Raja Pervaiz Ashraf was widely respected and warned that if one public figure could be targeted today, others could face similar treatment tomorrow.
Azam Nazeer Tarar said Raja Pervaiz Ashraf’s reputation and character were strong enough that people were not believing the allegations.
The law minister said the government would defend the dignity of every parliamentarian on every available forum and take strict legal action where necessary.
Azam Nazeer Tarar added that experienced suspects often attempted to divert investigations by naming prominent personalities.
He also criticised the repeated coverage of the alleged drug dealer on social and traditional media, saying authorities including Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority should examine the role of media outlets.
The law minister stressed that existing laws should be implemented without discrimination and vowed to take the matter to its logical conclusion.
Speaker Ayaz Sadiq further warned that drugs were spreading through society “like termites” and urged federal and provincial governments to intensify efforts against narcotics.
