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Pakistani politician (born 1955)

Rana Sanaullah Khan (Urdu: رانا ثناء ﷲ; born 1 January 1955) is a Pakistani lawyer and politician who is currently serving as Minister for Inter Provincial Coordination, in office since 30 May 2024. He also serving as Member of the Senate of Pakistan (Senator) since 30 September 2024.

Previously, he served as 39th Interior Minister of Pakistan from April 2022 to August 10, 2023.

He was a member of the National Assembly of Pakistan from August 2018 to August 2023. He is a senior member of the PML-N and the president of the PML-N in Punjab since 4 May 2019. Before getting elected to the National Assembly of Pakistan, Sanaullah had been elected to the Provincial Assembly of Punjab five times and had served in high-ranking ministries of the province.

Previously, he served as the Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister of Punjab from 2008 to 2018, Local Governments and Community Development Minister of Punjab from 2008 to 2014, Revenue Minister of Punjab from 2008 to 2013, Public Prosecution Minister of Punjab from 2008 to 2013, and the Deputy Leader of the Opposition (Punjab) from 1990 to 1993 and again from 2002 to 2007.

Early life and education

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Rana Sanaullah Khan was born on 1 January 1955 to Sher Muhammad Khan in a Punjabi Rajput family. He received a bachelor’s degree in commerce from Government College University Faisalabad and an LLB from Punjab Law College, Lahore.[2]

He was a married guy with one daughter Iqrar Sana, his wife Nabeela Sana also contest elections as Rana backed candidate in 2018 and 2024 elections but unsuccessful she received only 200 votes.

He is a cousin of former Chief Justice of Pakistan Iftikhar Chaudhry[3]

Pakistan People’s Party

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Rana Sanaullah was elected to the Provincial Assembly of the Punjab as a candidate of Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) in 1990 Pakistani general election, from constituency PP-59 Faisalabad-XX.

Pakistan Muslim League (N)

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He was re-elected to the Provincial Assembly of the Punjab as a[4] candidate of Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz) (PML-N) in 1997 Pakistani general election.[5][6]

He was re-elected to the Provincial Assembly of the Punjab from PP-70 (Faisalabad-XX) as a candidate of (PML-N) in 2002 Pakistani general election. He was also elected[7][8] as the leader of opposition of the Punjab Provincial Assembly.[9] In 2003, he was abducted by alleged intelligence agency Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) and was badly tortured for speaking against military regime.[10][11][12] Different pictures published in different newspapers showed Rana without his signature moustache and a shaved head. His acquaintances claim that the torture resulted in such an everlasting effect that interrupted the natural process of hair growth and since then his hair didn’t grow that bushy as before.[13] When freed, he was subsequently shifted to DHQ hospital.[13][14][15]

He was re-elected to the Provincial Assembly of the Punjab from PP-70[16] (Faisalabad-XX) as a candidate of (PML-N) in 2008 Pakistani general election.[17][18][19]

He was re-elected to the Provincial Assembly of the Punjab from PP-70 (Faisalabad-XX) as a candidate of (PML-N) in 2013 Pakistani general election.[20][21]

He contest elections from PP-113 Faisalabad-XIXand NA-106 (Faisalabad-VI) as a candidate of (PML-(N)) in 2018 Pakistani general election, in NA-106 (Faisalabad-VI) successful and defeat Nisar Jutt, but in PP-113 Faisalabad-XIX was unsuccessful and lost to Mian Waris Aziz a candidate of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf.

After dissolution of Government of Imran Khan through a no-confidence motion Sheikh Rasheed Ahmed down as Interior Minister. On 19 April 2022, he was appointed Federal Interior Minister of Pakistan in Shehbaz Sharif cabinet.

In April 2024, the current President of Pakistan Asif Ali Zardari appoints him as Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Political Affairs, but he resigned from post on 30 April 2024.

In May 2024, he appointed as Federal Minister for Inter Provincial Coordination.[22]

After the disqualification of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Ejaz Chaudhry, his seat became vacant and a member needed to be elected to fill the seat.[23][24]

Rana Sanaullah was elected as Senator from that seat by receiving 251 electrol votes.[25]

Political controversies

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Salman Taseer, the Governor of Punjab who was himself assassinated in 2011 by Mumtaz Qadri, a militant Islamist, before his death accused the PML-N in general and Rana Sanaullah in particular of entertaining links with militant organizations such as the Sipah-e-Sahaba Pakistan (SSP), a group known to use violence against Pakistan’s religious minorities, especially the Shi’as. Observers note that Taseer’s security at the time of his death was in the hands of the PML-N, Shehbaz Sharif being the Chief Minister of the province while Rana Sanaullah was the Law Minister.[26]

Rana Sanaullah met SSP’s leader Maulana Ahmed Ludhianvi in February 2010, in his capacity as Law Minister and PML-N leader, arguing that the SSP “had a vast following and vote-bank and that its support made political sense”, eventually justifying the electoral alliance between the PML-N and SSP.[27] Christophe Jaffrelot goes further, saying that it’s not only about political alliance for Rana Sanaullah but also ideological affinities, as during that campaign he “showed devotion to SSP heroes”, having paid respect at the tombs of Haq Nawaz Jhangvi and Azam Tariq.[28]

In August 2011, he accused an American contractor in Pakistan Warren Weinstein of being an American spy although Weinstein had lived in Pakistan for seven years and there was no evidence that he was a spy. Weinstein went missing a week later and was accidentally killed in a January 2015 US drone strike on the Afghanistan-Pakistan border, as announced by U.S. President Barack Obama at a White House press conference on April 23, 2015.[29][30]

Model Town incident

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On 17 June 2014, Punjab Police raided the Minhaj-ul-Quran International‘s Lahore secretariat on the pretext of removing security barriers from its surroundings. Tahir-ul-Qadri‘s followers, who were preparing for his arrival from Canada to launch an anti-government movement on 23 June 2014, protested and deadly skirmishes started. A dozen of Tahir-ul-Qadri’s devotees were killed including three women and around hundred got seriously wounded from bullet shots.[31][32][33] Rana Sanaullah, who is considered only second to the Chief Minister, remained adamant that the police action was justified which added to the public fury.[34]

In the wake of public reaction and opposition’s criticism, Shahbaz Sharif sacked Rana Sanaullah as Law Minister, and Punjab‘s top bureaucrat.[35] However, Qadri and other opposition leaders including Imran Khan held Shahbaz Sharif, Chief Minister of Punjab, responsible for the civilian deaths at the hands of police and demanded his resignation.[36] FIR of Model Town tragedy was registered against key figures of the present government including the Prime Minister, the Chief Minister and Rana Sanaullah.[37]

A joint-investigation-team (JIT) was later formed to investigate the incident. Exonerated by the government led JIT he was sworn in as Punjab Law Minister again in May 2015.[38]

However no conclusive actions have been taken regarding the incident.

When Sanaullah was travelling from Faisalabad to Lahore in July 2019, the Anti Narcotics Force (ANF) Lahore team detained him close to the Ravi Toll Plaza on the highway. Under Section 9(C) of the Control of Narcotic Substances Act of 1997, which contains the death penalty, life in prison, or a sentence that may last up to 14 years in jail, as well as a fine of up to Rs1 million, a first information report was filed.[39][40][41][42]

According to the First Information Report (FIR), Sanaullah was allegedly involved in drug trafficking and was transporting heroin to Lahore. This information had been provided to the force. He was twice denied bail by the trial court, but on December 24, 2019, the Lahore High Court granted him liberty.[43][44][45][46]

Sanaullah claimed on 10 December 2022 that the case against him was “concocted, designed, and created” after the multiple hearings. In the name of justice, equity, and fair play, he pleaded with the court to drop the charges against him. Sanaullah’s lawyer informed the court that “Sanaullah had nothing to do with narcotics” and that “the case was a political ploy.” He added that there were contradictions between the witness testimony and the camera footage.[47][48][49][50]

Imtiaz Ahmed, Assistant Director of the ANF, and Inspector Ehsaan Azam rejected the accusations against him during the final hearing, calling them “false.”[39] Along with other petitioners, Sanaullah asserted that this was an instance of political victimization. They said that Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Fawad Chaudhry had explicitly stated that this case had not been filed during the administration of ousted primer minister Imran Khan and had instead been brought by “influential people” in the country.[51][52][53]

Acquittal in narcotics case

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Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah was exonerated on December 10, 2022, by a special court in Lahore following multiple hearings and his submission of a plea.[51][54][55][56]

  1. ^ CJP favours PML-N because of cousin Rana Sanaullah, The Express Tribune newspaper, Published 16 December 2011, Retrieved 9 June 2017
  2. ^ “Rana Sanaullah”. Dawn News. 13 January 2012. Archived from the original on 12 February 2024.
  3. ^ abdul.manan (2011-12-16). “Punjab Assembly: CJP favours PML-N because of cousin Rana Sanaullah: Basra”. The Express Tribune. Retrieved 2025-04-19.
  4. ^ “Pakistan’s former Finance Minister Hafeez Sheikh among candidates shortlisted for caretaker PM: Sanaullah”. The Economic Times. 2023-08-07. ISSN 0013-0389. Retrieved 2024-07-20.
  5. ^ ““Enough Is Enough”: Pakistan PM Asks Parliament To Act Against Imran Khan”. NDTV.com. Retrieved 2024-07-20.
  6. ^ ““Either Imran Khan Will Get Murdered Or…”: Pak Minister’s Shocker”. NDTV.com. Retrieved 2024-07-20.
  7. ^ “Dispute growing in Pakistan over authenticity of source document of US media report on diplomatic cable”. The Economic Times. 2023-08-12. ISSN 0013-0389. Retrieved 2024-07-20.
  8. ^ “Is Imran Khan to be arrested again? Pak Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah’s controversial statements on ‘ladla’“. WION. 2023-05-13. Retrieved 2024-07-20.
  9. ^ “Punjab Assembly – Members – Members’ Directory”. www.pap.gov.pk.
  10. ^ “‘He will be arrested…’: Pakistan’s interior minister issues warning to PTI chief Imran Khan”. WION. 2023-02-06. Retrieved 2024-07-20.
  11. ^ “Pakistan’s interior minister warns of governor’s rule in Punjab if his entry is restricted”. WION. 2022-07-27. Retrieved 2024-07-20.
  12. ^ “Pakistan ‘on war footing to smash Taliban’“. The Guardian. 2014-01-28. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2024-07-20.
  13. ^ a b “Rana Sanaullah tortured”. 10 March 2003.
  14. ^ “Pakistan clerics accuse Punjab leaders of Taliban link”. BBC News. 2010-07-05. Retrieved 2024-07-20.
  15. ^ “Greece boat disaster: 350 Pakistanis were on board, minister says”. 2023-06-23. Retrieved 2024-07-20.
  16. ^ “Pakistan internet cut as violence erupts after arrest of ex-PM Imran Khan”. The Guardian. 2023-05-09. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2024-07-20.
  17. ^ “Punjab Assembly – Members – Members’ Directory”. www.pap.gov.pk.
  18. ^ “Imran Khan to be put on trial in military court: Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah”. WION. 2023-05-30. Retrieved 2024-07-20.
  19. ^ “Pakistan frees CIA spy charged with murder”. The Guardian. 2011-03-16. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2024-07-20.
  20. ^ “Punjab Assembly – Members – Members’ Directory”. www.pap.gov.pk.
  21. ^ “Evidence suggests reporter killed in Kenya was targeted, says Pakistan”. The Guardian. Reuters. 2022-11-08. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2024-07-20.
  22. ^ Inter Provincial Coordination Division. “Inter Provincial Coordination Division”. ipc.gov.pk. Archived from the original on 2024-11-03. Retrieved 2025-10-11.
  23. ^ “Senators elected in Bye polls”. senate.gov.pk.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  24. ^ “PML-N’s Rana Sanaullah wins Senate by-election for Punjab seat”. Dawn. 2025-09-09. Retrieved 2025-10-11.
  25. ^ “Rana Sanaullah wins Punjab Senate by-election”. 2025-09-09. Retrieved 2025-10-11.
  26. ^ Faith-Based Violence and Deobandi Militancy in Pakistan. Palgrave Macmillan UK. 2016. p. 242.
  27. ^ Abou Zahab, Mariam (2020). Pakistan: A Kaleidoscope of Islam. Oxford University Press. p. 143.
  28. ^ Jaffrelot, Christophe (2015). The Pakistan Paradox: Instability and Resilience. Oxford University Press. p. 615.
  29. ^ Warren Weinstein Pakistan Kidnapping: Three Suspects Arrested – ABC News website, Published 24 August 2011, Retrieved 9 June 2017
  30. ^ U.S. drone strike accidentally killed 2 hostages, Updated 2326 GMT (0726 HKT) April 23, 2015 /
  31. ^ 7 dead, 80 injured in clash between PAT and Lahore Police, The Nation (Pakistan) newspaper, 17 June 2014. Retrieved 9 June 2017.
  32. ^ Eight killed in police action at Minhajul Quran secretariat in Lahore, The News International, 17 June 2014. Retrieved 27 June 2014.
  33. ^ Pakistan witnesses a day-long ‘revolution’ drama, Al Arabiya, 24 June 2014. Retrieved 11 June 2017
  34. ^ Model Town mayhem: Opposition takes government to task, law minister remains adamant , Daily Times, 18 June 2014. Retrieved 28 June 2014.
  35. ^ Shahbaz romoves Sanaullah as minister, Dawn (newspaper), 21 June 2014. Retrieved 9 June 2017.
  36. ^ Model Town killings: Shahbaz must tender resignation, says Imran Khan, The Express Tribune, 22 June 2014. Retrieved 9 June 2017.
  37. ^ Massacre, Lahore. “Model Town Lahore Massacre: FIR lodged against 21 including PM, CM – Lahore Massacre, A website on Punjab Police Brutality in Model Town, Lahore”. Lahore Massacre.
  38. ^ Dawn.com (2015-05-29). “Rana Sanaullah back as Punjab law minister”. DAWN.COM. Retrieved 2019-01-23.
  39. ^ a b Bilal, Rana (2022-12-10). “Lahore court acquits Rana Sanaullah in narcotics case”. DAWN.COM. Retrieved 2022-12-10.
  40. ^ “Pakistan court acquits interior minister in 2019 narcotics case”. The Indian Express. 2022-12-10. Retrieved 2024-07-20.
  41. ^ “Pakistan minister Rana Sanaullah Khan acquitted in narcotics case”. gulfnews.com. 2022-12-11. Retrieved 2024-07-20.
  42. ^ “ANF arrests Rana Sanaullah for carrying drugs”. The Express Tribune. 2019-07-01. Retrieved 2022-12-10.
  43. ^ “The inside story of Rana Sanaullah’s arrest by the ANF”. www.geo.tv. Retrieved 2022-12-10.
  44. ^ “Pakistan home minister writes to army chief about drug case”. The Times of India. 2022-07-10. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 2024-07-20.
  45. ^ “Rana Sanaullah to be indicted on March 6 in drugs case”. www.geo.tv. Retrieved 2024-07-20.
  46. ^ “Rana Sanaullah acquitted in narcotics case”. Pakistan Observer. 2022-12-10. Retrieved 2024-07-20.
  47. ^ “Rana Sanaullah acquitted in narcotics case”. Brecorder. 2022-12-10. Retrieved 2022-12-10.
  48. ^ “Another plea seeking FIR against Rana Sana filed”. www.thenews.com.pk. Retrieved 2024-07-20.
  49. ^ Bilal, Rana (2022-12-10). “Lahore court acquits Rana Sanaullah in narcotics case”. DAWN.COM. Retrieved 2024-07-20.
  50. ^ Yasif, Rana (2023-03-06). “LHC dismisses Sana’s plea challenging arrest warrant”. The Express Tribune. Retrieved 2024-07-20.
  51. ^ a b “Court acquits Rana Sanaullah in narcotics case”. The Express Tribune. 2022-12-10. Retrieved 2022-12-10.
  52. ^ “Court issues notices on plea to register case against Rana Sanaullah”. GNN – Pakistan’s Largest News Portal. 2024-04-18. Retrieved 2024-07-20.
  53. ^ Reporter, The Newspaper’s Staff (2024-04-14). “Plea seeking registration of FIR against ex-interior minister dismissed”. DAWN.COM. Retrieved 2024-07-20.
  54. ^ “Rana Sanaullah acquitted in drugs case”. www.geo.tv. Retrieved 2022-12-10.
  55. ^ “Preparations to welcome Nawaz Sharif launched”. Daily Times. 2022-12-10. Retrieved 2022-12-10.
  56. ^ “The inside story of Rana Sanaullah’s arrest by the ANF”. www.geo.tv. Retrieved 2024-07-20.

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