KARACHI: Customs court Judge Syed Faiz Rasool Rashdi issued notices to the customs department and special prosecutor of the customs department on a pre-arrest bail petition filed by Iqbal Hayat Paracha, owner of M/s Balochistan Enterprises Karachi, who was booked in a case of attempting to smuggle 27170 kilograms of betel nuts in the garb of wax granules.
During the hearing, counsel for the applicant filed bail petition and argued that petitioner is innocent and falsely implicated in this case, he is ready to face trail, however, he has apprehension of arrest, therefore, court may grant him bail till final order in this case.
Earlier, investigation officer had produced First Information Report No 05/2018 before the court and informed that on credible information, officials of the customs department intercepted a consignment destined for Quetta, at Qasim International Container Terminal Karachi (QICT) which was going to be gate out un-examined, the goods have been imported and transshipment goods declaration filed by M/s Balochistan Enterprises by mis-declaration therein goods as wax granules.
He submitted that QICT’s staff, shipper’s seal of the container was removed and examination process started by the undersigned jointly with the AO-CIU, and during examination, the goods were found as betel nuts net weight 2717 kilograms, origin not shown, instead of the ones declared by the importers in the goods declaration.
Investigation officer further said that during the preliminary inquiry into the matter it has revealed that the importers do not have a valid import permit, valid and release order of the department of plant protection, ministry of national food security and research to import the recovered betel nuts as compulsorily required in terms of serial no 221 of part-III of Appendix-B to the IPO, 2016, on contrary, the importer have tried to get clearance of the above mentioned restricted item though mis-declaration in serious violation of the mandatory provisions of law and procedure.
He submitted that it is established that the importers M/s Balochistan Enterprises along-with other accomplices have deliberately mis-declared description of the impugned goods from replacement thereof with other ones en route to the final destination, with the intent to get illegal clearance of the restricted item. After the hearing, court takes FIR on court record and directed him to submit charge sheet within 14 days.
