RAWALPINDI, Aug 8: Once considered to be a powerful and brave politician, PML-N lawmaker Hanif Abbasi seems to be without any support from his party and colleagues in Rawalpindi for his alleged involvement in the notorious ephedrine case, except for a few banners displayed by loyal party workers.

The banners displayed on Benazir Bhutto Road, dub the legislator as innocent and victim of political vendetta.

The Anti Narcotics Force (ANF) has registered a criminal case No 41, against Mr Abbasi for getting 500kg of ephedrine — the controlled chemical — and currently the legislator is being grilled for sharing the detail as to how and where the drug was consumed.

The residence of Mr Abbasi — E-56 Satellite Town — that used to be packed with party workers is now frequented by legal experts and other professionals for guiding the lawmakers about how to deal with the ephedrine case.

A brief chat with the PML-N lawmaker revealed that Mr Abbasi feels a sense of loneliness and a conspiracy to eliminate footholds of PML-N in Rawalpindi in the next general elections.

Political observers are of the view that PML-N would face tough time in the upcoming general elections as the party was running out of influential candidates, except MNA Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan and Hanif Abbasi with the latter earning bad image in the ephedrine case.

“I have shared complete detail with ANF investigators, regarding how my Grey Pharmaceutical consumed the 500kg ephedrine. I am quite confident that I will prove as innocent but for the time being my opponent Sheikh Rashid defames me in public for my name in the controlled chemical case,” Mr Abbasi told Dawn.

The lawmaker says that a lobby of Sheikh Rashid was behind the conspiracy to defame me, so that the former federal minister could get grounds for winning a seat in the garrison district.

“Yes my party is not supporting me in the ephedrine case. I am all alone to fight my case and I will finally win but my political opponents are misguiding public and even my supporters,” Mr Abbasi said.

Official sources and party sources say that Mr Abbasi’s influence in the affairs of Rawalpindi have also come to an end as entire key posts in the district were occupied by officers that have been dumped in the city on the recommendations of PML-N leader Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan.

From Commissioner Rawalpindi, to DCO and Director General Rawalpindi Development Authority (RDA), besides Managing Director Water and Sanitation Agency (Wasa), the key officers have been appointed on the advice of Mr Khan. Recently, lawmaker Hanif Abbasi had to exchange harsh words with chief of RDA Chaudhry Naseer Ahmed and DCO Rawalpindi Saqib Zafar for not paying heed to his priorities.

There are rumours that Mr Abbasi will not get a ticket from the PML-N for contesting elections until and unless he clarifies his position in the ephedrine case. However, Mr Abbasi boasts that he was the only candidate in NA-56 and NA-55 that could give tough time to Sheikh Rashid and is hopeful that party would award him ticket.

“Makhdoom Javed Hashmi is no more in PML-N to fight against Sheikh Rashid, so Hanif Abbasi is the only option,” Mr Abbasi added reiterating that inclusion of his name in ephedrine scandal was a political case for tainting his image and giving boost to Sheikh Rashid.