KARACHI: Customs Court Judge Syed Faiz Rasool Rashdi has granted pre-arrest bail to suspects namely Khurram Iqbal, proprietor of M/s Khurram Steel Mills and Syed Muhammad Rizwan, proprietor of M/s Unique Enterprises, who were booked in a case of duty and tax evasion Rs. 13,036,512.
During the hearing, counsel for the accused appeared before the court and argued that his clients were innocent and were falsely implicated in this case. He submitted that the suspects were ready to face trail, however, they had apprehension of their arrest, therefore, the court might grant them bail till the final disposal of the case.
After his arguments, court granted them bail against the surety of Rs 200,000 and issued notices to the special prosecutor for customs department and investigation officer. The court also directed the suspects to appear before the court on the next date of hearing.
According to the prosecution, above mentioned accused and others are involved in collusion with their other accomplice have smuggled polyester fabric and fan belts into Pakistan and fraudulently claimed the same in the garb of import of iron/ steel remeltable scrap from Customs Collectorate Port Muhammad Bin Qasim Karachi.
He further informed the court that they have inflicted colossal loss to public exchequer by evading duty and taxes, therefore, case was registered against them for violation of customs and income taxes acts.
