ISLAMABAD: A division bench of Customs Appellate Tribunal on Monday dated in office hearing of Ayyan Ali’s money laundering case till October 10.
Tribunal’s division bench comprising Chairman, Justice (r) Manzoor Hussain and Ziauddin Wazir heard the case. The bench dated in office the case, remarking that it would look into submission and documents filed by Ayyan Ali’s counsel Latif Khosa.
The bench was “rehearing” submission by Ayyan Ali’s counsel filed few days ago after the previous petition was dismissed for non-prosecution. Ayyan Ali had filed petition with the Customs Appellate Tribunal for early hearing of her restored appeal, challenging announcement about money laundering of $500,000 in March 2015.
Ayyan counsels argued that his client was innocent. The counsels submitted that department had no sufficient evidence to prove that black money was being laundered. He asked the tribunal to set aside the announcement made by the customs court. The bench then dated in office hearing. Ayyan Ali’s counsel, Sardar Latif Khosa had paid fine Rs 10,000 for restoration of case.
Ayyan was arrested from Benazir Bhutto International Airport with $500,000 in March 2015. The Airport Security Force intercepted her and recovered the said amount from her luggage. She was released on bail after four months in Adiala Jail.
Through the petition, Ayyan’s counsel challenged the said decision announced by a Rawalpindi customs court. The court had indicted Ayyan for trying to smuggle $500,000 out of Pakistan.
The amount was confiscated by customs authorities and later Customs Adjudication found her guilty of smuggling of aid amount out of Pakistan.
Customs Court maintained the departmental decision on confiscation of the money and also added a fine of $500,000 (the same amount seized while being smuggled) on Ayyan.
