Raja Pervaiz Ashraf responds to Anmol Pinky allegations in assembly

Updated: 2:59 AM PKT — May 21, 2026

In his address, Ashraf alleged a police officer pressured the accused woman into naming him. He called for strict action against those who spread fake news and level baseless accusations to damage reputations.

Updated: 11:54 PM PKT — May 20, 2026

Federal Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar personally assured the former prime minister of a thorough investigation into the matter. Tarar promised that the inquiry would specifically aim to hold the responsible parties accountable for the social media allegations.

Updated: 11:35 PM PKT — May 20, 2026

Speaker Ayaz Sadiq assured Ashraf that the matter would be investigated following his demand for action against defamation. Karachi’s Additional IG clarified to a parliamentary committee that while the probe into a large online drug network is widening to include police from Punjab, the former prime minister’s name has not officially come up in the investigation.

Updated: 11:18 PM PKT — May 20, 2026

Ashraf stated the arrested woman mentioned his name under duress and that her lawyer had since issued a clarification. He called for new legislation to regulate social media platforms, while the law minister dismissed the allegations as baseless tactics used by criminals to divert attention.

Updated: 8:01 PM PKT — May 20, 2026

The political controversy erupted after a suspect in the drug case allegedly mentioned the former prime minister’s name. In his address to the National Assembly, Ashraf condemned the allegations as an act of character assassination.

Updated: 7:15 PM PKT — May 20, 2026

IG Karachi Azad Khan briefed a National Assembly standing committee, identifying the matter as the “Anmol and Pinky drug trafficking case.” Khan confirmed arrests were made in Karachi and stated that the investigation’s scope is widening.

Updated: 6:43 PM PKT — May 20, 2026

Former Prime Minister Raja Pervaiz Ashraf personally raised the issue in the assembly, citing difficulties created by the unverified use of his name. The Speaker and Law Minister assured him of a full probe and expressed the House’s support. Investigators are now analyzing suspects’ phone data, pursuing a money laundering angle, and have indicated that more arrests are expected soon.

Updated: 6:00 PM PKT — May 20, 2026

Police officials informed the committee that Ashraf’s name has not appeared at any stage of the formal investigation. The former prime minister called for new laws to prevent character assassination on social media before an investigation is complete. The committee has now sought a comprehensive report on the case from the police chiefs of Sindh and Punjab.

Updated: 4:47 PM PKT — May 20, 2026

The high-profile case involves drug trafficking, with the Karachi Police Chief telling a committee the suspect ran a large-scale online drug operation for years, bribing police officials. Ashraf stated that according to the suspect’s lawyer, she is being pressured to falsely name him in the matter. The investigation has reportedly identified numerous accomplices and financial trails connected to the network.