Court likely to decide bail confirmation plea of accused on next hearing
KARACHI: The Special Customs and Taxation Court has adjourned the arms smuggling case till August 13 as Federal Investigation Agency’s investigation officer has not yet completed the investigation into the case.
According to the FIA officials, parts of pistols and magazines were recovered from the personal baggage of Mumtazuddin at the Jinnah International Airport. The accused reportedly used to smuggle the consignments for a Nadra official Col (r) Hafeez. Subsequently an FIR was registered against the smuggler and co-accused under the sections of the Customs Act 1969.
When the case came up for hearing in Special Custom and Taxation Court on Friday, the FIA inspector Siraj Panhwar told the judge that he required custody of Hafeez, who is out on bail, for further investigation.
He said the prime accused smuggled the parts of weapons for Hafeez but where did they go afterwards is still a grey area.
Therefore, he opposed the bail confirmation plea of Hafeez and requested the court to remand the accused to FIA’s custody.
The counsel for the accused submitted that the investigation officer is duty bound to complete the investigation and submit charge sheet within stipulated time, however, he had failed to do so after lapse of a year.
He said Hafeez was summoned nine times by FIA for interrogation and his statement was recorded yet the FIA wants to have his custody. He argued that it is not a smuggling case and requires to be investigated further.
Judge Syed Faiz Rasool Rashdi put off the hearing of case till August 13 when it is expected to decide the bail confirmation plea of the accused.
