KARACHI: The Customs Court granted interim pre-arrest bail to suspected importers namely Sajid Mirza son of Mufeed Mirza and Syed Hussan Waris Abidi son of Syed Khadim Hussain Abidi, who were booked in a case of attempting to smuggle non-duty paid 209,540 kilograms betel nuts.
It is necessary to mention here that Appraiser Muhammad Shahid Murad son of Murad Ali, of Customs Collectorate of Appraisement Customs House Karachi is on physical remand in this case.
On October 8, 2018, counsel for the suspects moved bail application and argued that his clients are innocent and were falsely implicated in this case, who are ready to face trial; therefore, court may grant them bail till final order in this case.
After the hearing, court granted their bail against the surety of Rs300,000 and directed them to appear before the court on next date of hearing. The court also directed them to join investigations whenever required by investigation officer.
First information report (FIR) was registered against Faisel Shakeel, owner of M/s Sualeha Textile Industries, Muhammad Zakir, owner of M/s M.Z Enterprises, proprietors and directors of clearing agent M/s Jawad Zubair, Pervaiz Ejaz son of Ahmed Sher, clearing agent of M/s Pervez Ejaz Associates, Rana Fareed, employee of M/s Pervez Ejaz Associates, Muhammad Shahid Murad son of Murad Ali, appraiser, Customs Collectorate of Appraisement, Najeeb Abid son of Abid Hussain, Appraiser, Customs Collectorate of Appraisement, proprietors and directors of M/s Ansa International, proprietors and directors of M/s Mirza Corporation and others to be ascertained during the investigation.
Investigation officer informed the court that a credible information was received that importer M/s Sualeha Textile Industries and others were involved in a scam of illegal import of betel nuts in collusion with the clearing agents, customs officials and other facilitators and on that information, officials of the customs department visited spot and found all four containers were stuffed with betel nuts and 34100 kilograms pressed bundle scrap was stacked in front of containers to conceal the betel nuts.
He further submitted that during the initial investigation, it was established beyond any iota of doubt that the accused, in collusion with other accomplices and abettors, have attempted to clear the impugned consignments comprising of betel nuts which were otherwise restricted items as per import policy order in vogue and included in the list of smuggled items. Revenue loss on the seized goods has been estimated as Rs46,089,024.
