KARACHI: The Customs court sent seven suspects,who were booked in a case of attempting to smuggle non-duty paid contraband betel nuts, to Central Jail Karachi on judicial remand.
Court also fixed July 23, 2018 for order on bail petition of the accused persons.
On July 21, investigation officer of this case produced the suspects before the court and informed that prosecution has completed investigations from said accused persons and if court send them to jail than prosecution has no objection; therefore, the court sent them to jail and directed him to complete investigation and submit charge-sheet on next date of hearing.
On last date of hearing, counsel for suspects namely Habid-ur-Rahman son of Haji Abdullah, Abdul Nafe son of Haji Abdul Ghaffar, Saqib Khan son of Anwar Khan, Ibrahim son of Saddique, Hamayun son of Alam Khan, Abdul Pukar son of Alif Khan and Najeebullah son of Boor Muhammad filed bail petition and argued that according to the prosecution Pakistan Rangers staff at Agra Taj Colony, Maripure, Road, Karachi intercepted three Suzuki pick-ups bearing registration number No AFR-2018, KT-3028 and KW-7518 and handed over them to customs officials who recovered total 5,080 kg betel nuts from them.
He argued that betel nuts are importable and are available in open markets of Pakistan and value of the seized betel nuts has been shown exorbitantly high to show the false performance as Customs Preventive has no power to determine the value of any item.
He further argued that perusal of FIR show that prosecution invoked provision of Section 2 (s) Section 156 (8) & (89) are not applicable in the instant case as betel nuts are not notified item and not included as an item in the notification of notified list issued under Section 2 (s) of the Customs Act, 1969.
