ISLAMABAD: The Customs Appellate Tribunal adjourned the hearing of Ayyan Ali money laundering case after imposing a fine of Rs5000 more for not taking part in tribunal’s proceeding during a third week of January. The tribunal had imposed a fine of Rs24000 for the same reason in the multiple petitions in the same matter.
Tribunal’s bench imposed this fine while hearing Ayyan’s petition for restoration of money laundering case that was dismissed twice for non-prosecution after the appellant failed to take part in tribunal’s proceeding despite issuance of multiple notices.
Tribunal’s division bench, comprising of Chairman Justice (r) Manzoor Hussain and Ziauddin Wazir, heard the arguments.
Afterwards, the bench set the date of February 13 for hearing arguments as department’s counsel sought time.
Ayyan Ali had filed an application with the Customs Appellate Tribunal for early hearing of her restored appeal challenging the announcement about money laundering of $500000 in March this 2015.
Ayyan counsels argued that his client was innocent. The counsels submitted that department had not sufficient evidence to prove that black money was being smuggled. He asked the tribunal to set aside the announcement made by customs court. The bench then dated in office hearing.
Ayyan Ali’s Counsel Sardar Latif Khosa had paid the fine of Rs10000 for the restoration of case. Earlier, the case was dismissed for non-prosecution by the appellant.
Ayyan Ali’s Counsel Sardar Latif Khosa had filed the petition at the Customs Appellate Tribunal Islamabad challenging the decision of a lower customs court regarding the confiscation of $500000 seized while being smuggled by Ayyan Ali, and imposition of fine for trying to smuggle money out of Pakistan.
