KARACHI: The Customs Court re-issued non-bailable warrants against absconding accused, who are booked in a case of attempting to smuggle donkey hides worth Rs 12,46,50,000 from Lahore to Karachi to be smuggled to China.
During the hearing, investigation officer submitted that accused Muhammad Bilal, Muhammad Farooq and Muhammad Rafique alias Rafi are still absconders in this case and prosecution is trying its best to arrest them, therefore, the court may grant time and issue non-bailable warrants against the absconding suspects.
According to the prosecution, local police recovered 4, 986 donkey hides (pieces) which were put inside 642 bags. The operation took place at a shop located in Gulistan-e-Jauhar, Block-12 and arrested a Chinese Citizen Tu-zhong Xiao son of Tu Shao, Syed Ehtisham Zaidi son of Syed Shamim Ahmed Zaidi, Muhammad Faisal Bhutto son of Muhammad Ibrahim, Muhammad Jumman son of Ameer Ali, Zeeshan Jan son of Patrus, Daniyal Rahman son of Muhammad Shakeel, Afshan wife of Ehtisham and absconders accused Muhammad Bilal son of Salamat Ali, Muhammad Farooq son of Muhammad Qasim and Muhammad Rafique alias Rafi, after the formalities, police handed over them to customs department for FIR and further investigation and during the investigation, it was revealed that the hides were brought illegally from Lahore to be smuggled to China. “There were about eight hides in one sack and one hide is sold for approximately Rs25, 000.
As per interim challan, investigation officer has informed the court that China is using donkey hides to produce medicine named Ejiao, which is useful in blood-related disease. The Ejiao is obtained from donkey’s Gilatin and owing to this reasons, China has become major importer of donkey hides. “A large numbers of donkey hides are being export to China and often illegal methods are adopted to make more profits. Due to such smuggling, Pakistan is facing shortfall in foreign exchange whereas its meat is also served to people in Islamic country.” Tu Zhong Xiao is the master mind and main culprit in this case, he makes all the dealing and also responsible for investment and sending consignment outside the country.
