KARACHI: The Customs Court granted pre-arrest bail to Principal Appraiser Syed Irshad Ali Shah, Intelligence Officer, Khayam Mirza, Sepoy Majid Hashim Khan, Moiz Khan and Asif Irfan Satti, who were absconders and are involved in illegal removal/replacement of seized betel nuts from state warehouse.
On June 21, 2019, the counsels of above mentioned suspects appeared before the court and moved pre-arrest bail applications and argued that their clients are innocent and falsely implicated in this case, therefore, court may grant pre-arrest bail.
After the hearing, court granted their bail and ordered that ‘without touching the merits of the case, ad-interim pre-arrest bail is granted to applicants/accused subject to furnishing surety in the sum of Rs100,000 to the satisfaction of this court, accused are directed to join investigation if and when required by the investigation officer of the case’.
Earlier, investigation officer had submitted interim charge sheet against arrested suspects Muhmood Akber and Pervaiz Ahmed Zardari, and stated that on a credible information, a committee headed by principal appraiser, to conduct physical audit of confiscated seized betel nuts lying in the state warehouse, S.I.T.E Karachi and furnish report accordingly, wherein pointed out following serious discrepancies and shortage/replacement in the seized betel nuts.
He further submitted that an inquiry was conducted and from the perusal of case record, stock register and statements recorded during inquiry proceedings, it transpired that the entire affairs of intelligence (SWH) were dealt in grave violation of the provision of section 169 (1) of the customs act, 1969.
Investigation officer said that during the investigation, it has been found that Mehmood Aktar has been found involved in the illegal removal of seized betel nuts weighing 88,353 kilograms coupled with 2,000 kilograms of date seeds, soup nuts (reetha), wooden off cuts, likewise, Pervaiz Ahmed Zardari is involved in the replacement of 180 bags of seized betel nuts weighing 5,650 kilograms with 180 bags of date seeds, wooden off cuts, etc, weighing 5,650 kgs and thus have violated the provision of section 169 (1) 156 (1) (8) and (82) of the Customs Act, 1969 read with chapter XI of CGO 12 of 2002.
