SC extends interim bail of suspects in fake medicines case, seeks complete FIA record

ISLAMABAD, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 29th Jun, 2026) The Supreme Court on Monday extended the interim pre-arrest bail of three suspects accused of manufacturing counterfeit medicines and exporting them abroad until the next hearing, while directing the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) to produce the complete record of the case and asking the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP) to present further evidence against the accused.

A three-member bench comprising Justice Jamal Khan Mandokhail, Justice Malik Shahzad Ahmad Khan and Justice Aqeel Ahmed Abbasi heard the case.

During the proceedings, counsel for DRAP submitted that the suspects had been involved in producing counterfeit medicines and exporting them overseas, adding that the United Nations (UN) had also issued a report concerning the medicines.

Justice Malik Shahzad Ahmad Khan observed that counterfeit medicines claimed lives every day, stressing that no one could be allowed to manufacture fake drugs and endanger public health.

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Counsel for the accused argued that his clients had no connection with the company in question and neither owned nor rented the premises where the alleged activities took place.

At this, Justice Aqeel Ahmed Abbasi remarked that a pharmaceutical company could not be operated in streets or residential neighbourhoods, adding that manufacturing medicines was not like making furniture that could be started without proper authorisation.

Justice Jamal Khan Mandokhail directed DRAP's counsel to place concrete evidence against the accused before the court, while Justice Malik Shahzad observed that if the suspects were innocent, DRAP should explain why it had registered a case against them.

Three suspects, including Zia Khalid, have filed pre-arrest bail petitions before the Supreme Court.

The court extended their interim bail until the next hearing, directed the FIA to submit the complete case record, and ordered that the matter be fixed for hearing at the earliest.