LHC rejects bail of two women in Rs 400m drug money laundering case

The Lahore High Court (LHC) on Thursday dismissed the interim bail petitions of two women accused of laundering drug money through high-value properties in Lahore’s Defence area

LAHORE, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 21st May, 2026) The Lahore High Court (LHC) on Thursday dismissed the interim bail petitions of two women accused of laundering drug money through high-value properties in Lahore’s Defence area.

A two-member bench comprising Justice Farooq Haider and Justice Ali Zia Bajwa heard the petitions filed by accused Maria Umar and Rimsha Asim.

During the hearing, Assistant Director ANF and other officials appeared before the court, while Advocate Yasir Siddiq Mughal represented the ANF.

The prosecution argued that the accused women had acquired properties worth around Rs 400 million in Defence between 2018 and 2025 using proceeds from narcotics trafficking. It further claimed that bank transactions amounting to Rs 750 million were traced in the accounts of the accused during the same period.

The ANF counsel told the court that the women failed to provide documentary proof regarding the properties during the inquiry and could not explain the source of income behind the transactions.

The defence counsel contended that the ANF had taken possession of three properties without prior court approval.

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He further argued that the investigating officer was acting as both complainant and investigator in the case, adding that an officer below Grade-18 was not authorised to conduct such an investigation.

The defence also maintained that the accused had never been questioned regarding allegations of money laundering through the properties.

In response, the ANF prosecutor stated that notices mentioning all properties had been issued to the accused. He urged the court to reject the interim bail petitions.

During proceedings, Justice Ali Zia Bajwa asked the ANF counsel about the number of assets linked to the accused. The prosecutor informed the court that Maria Umar owned four properties while Rimsha Asim also possessed four properties.

The court was further informed that Maria Umar’s husband was allegedly involved in narcotics business activities in Karachi and had previously served time in jail.

After hearing arguments from both sides, the bench dismissed the interim bail petitions of both accused women.

Following the dismissal of their petitions, the Anti Narcotics Force took both women into custody.