Minister for State and Frontier Regions and Narcotics Control Shehryar Afridi said during a press conference on Wednesday that neither he nor Prime Minister Imran Khan were involved in the legal proceedings of PML-N leader Rana Sanaullah’s case.

On December 24, the Lahore High Court had granted bail to Sanauallah in a drug case filed against him by the Anti-Narcotics Force (ANF).

He was also ordered to submit two surety bonds of Rs1 million each.

“The court has granted bail to Rana Sanuallah, not acquitted him,” Afridi said in the press conference. “I was out of the country yesterday, I didn’t even attend the cabinet meeting but a perception was created that I am running away from the media,” he said.

The ANF is a professional power run by the Major General. It has nine brigadiers under it, said the minister.

“Neither I, nor did the prime minister pass the judgment or interfere in it, there is no victimization at any level,” he said. “Time will prove, this is the season of bails.”

He said that leaders are temporary and highlighted the importance of strengthening the institutions.

“One thing is being connected to me — video, video, video,” Afridi said. “The media took my statements and presented it in a negative way,” he added.

After Sanaullah’s arrest in July, Afridi said that the ANF had all the footage of the PML-N leader to prove his arrest.

Read More: Rana Sanaullah granted bail in narcotics case

Sanaullah was arrested on July 1 by the ANF while he was travelling from Faisalabad to Lahore. The ANF claimed to have seized 15kg heroin from his vehicle. A special team of the force had also arrested five others, including the driver and security guards of the PML-N leader.