KARACHI: The Customs Court is to conduct hearing into importation of banned antibiotic case today (Wednesday).
The accused namely Muhammad Ali Chandna of M/s Pure Enterprises, who was the prime suspect into the case as per customs authorities, would present himself before the court today (Wednesday).
It is pertinent to mention here that the importer-cum-indenter, Muhammad Ali Chandna, was released by the Customs Court on bail at the end of previous month, while the authorities concerned of customs also arrested another man namely Bukht Khan from northern area on suspicion. However, later it was transpired that the arrested man, Bukht Khan, was the driver who used to transport the consignments from port to go-down.
It may be mention here that the intelligence units of both the collectorates i.e. Research and Development (R&D) Section of Appraisement-East and Appraising Intelligence Unit (AIB) of Appraisement-West while following the directives of Appraisement-South Chief Collector Nasir Masroor Ahmed have investigated the case jointly and assisted each of the units as per requirement.
It may also be mentioned here that a team comprising the officials of both the intelligence units including Appraiser Shahid Ibrahim Dasti, Preventive Officer Malik Hashim and Examining Officer Adil Rasheed went to Swat for arresting the man namely Bukht Khan in the start of this month.
Sources informed Customs Today that the authorities concerned of Pakistan Customs have divided the investigation into two parts in which AIB of MCC Appraisement-West conducted documental work, while the R&D Section of MCC Appraisement-East would execute field operation into the said case.
The sources further informed this scribe that the AIB of MCC Appraisement-West while following the directives of Customs Court already visited the residence of an accused Ziauddin in Liaquatabad area last week. The accused was the proprietor of M/s Chemi Zone and the AIB authorities concerned registered an FIR in the month of September 2014 against the accused for his alleged involvement in importing banned antibiotics Cefixime from India to Pakistan.
The sources further disclosed that Ziauddin is in China and the AIB team recorded the statement of his brother and will present the said statement before the court today.
The sources further said that the authorities concerned of both the collectorates are busy in preparing the case details, which they would present before Customs Court in the hearing; adding that the authorities concerned have decided to request cancellation of Chandna’s bail during the hearing.
It is pertinent to mention here that the case of importation of banned antibiotics was unearthed last year in which the customs authorities found more than 80 consignments of banned antibiotics had been imported in Pakistan in the year 2011-2012.
