KARACHI: The Customs Court granted bail to owners of different outlets/ petrol pumps all over the Province of Sindh in more than 70 cases, who were nominated in the first information report (FIR) for purchase and sale of smuggled Iranian Petroleum products.
On 23 February 2021, during the hearing, all accused persons appeared before the court along with their counsels who moved applications for pre-arrest bail and argued that their clients are innocent and have been falsely implicated in these cases, who are ready to face trail, however, they have apprehension of arrest.
After the hearing, the court granted their bail and asked them to appear before the court for the next date of hearing for confirmation or otherwise.
Earlier, investigation officers of more than 140 cases have submitted FIRs and informed the court that in pursuance to federal government (Prime Minister of Imran Khan) initiative and federal board of revenue’s directives, a country wide operation was launched against the illegal POL, outlets/ dumping site to the effect that the smuggled/ non-duty paid petroleum products are being sold at these outlets operating in various parts of the country.
They stated that consequently, joint teams comprising officers of the customs, district management and police department were constituted to counter verify the legality of these POL outlets and products therein and during the operation, customs officials found huge quantity of POL from different outlets and during conducting operation, officials of same failed to produce any lawful documents of petroleum products, therefore, after the formalities, customs officials seized the same and FIRs have been registered against owners of the outlets.
After the hearing, the court took FIRs into court record and directed investigation officers to complete and submit charge sheets in these cases.
According to the prosecution, cases were registered for violation of under section 2 (s), read with sections 16, 156(2), 157, 178 and 187 of the customs act, 1969 and the rules made thereunder, further read with section 3(I) of import & export control act, 1950.
