ISLAMABAD: A division bench of Customs Appellate Tribunal, headed by Chairman Justice (r) Manzoor Hussain dated in office hearing on restored appeal of Ayyan Ali challenging announcement in money laundering.
Tribunal’s division bench comprises Chairman, Justice (r) Manzoor Hussain and Ziauddin Wazir heard the case and dated in office after hearing.
Ayyan counsels argued that his client was innocent. The counsels submitted that department had not sufficient evidence to prove that money black money was being laundered. He asked tribunal to set aside announcement made by customs court. The bench then dated in office hearing.
Ayyan Ali’s counsel, Sardar Latif Khosa had paid fine Rs10,000 for restoration of case. Earlier the case was dismissed for non-prosecution by the appellant.
Ayyan Ali’s counsel, Sardar Latif Khosa had filed the petition at Customs Appellate Tribunal, Islamabad challenging decision of a lower customs court regarding confiscation of amount $500,000, seized while being smuggled by Ayyan Ali, and imposition of fine for trying to smuggle money out of Pakistan.
Ayyan was arrested from Benazir Bhutto International Airport with $500,000 in March this 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 the Pakistan.
The amount was confiscated by customs authorities and laer customs adjudication found her guilty of smuggling said amount out of Pakistan.
Customs court maintained departmental decision on confiscation of amount being tried to smuggle and also added fine of $500,000 (same amount seized while being smuggled) on Ayyan.
Customs tribunal had yet not decided the date to hear the case. Ayyan had filed the petition at tribunal after appointment of new Chairman Manzoor Hussain.
It is pertinent to mention that Ayyan had pleaded not guilty to the charges ofmoney laundering at the lower court and defended against the case in which she has been purposefully implicated.
Customs court Judge Rana Aftab Ahmed heard the case and had recorded several eye witnesses in thecase. It is worth mentioning that custom officer Chaudhry Ijaz, one of the key witnesses in the case, was murdered. Ijaz was shot in the leg when two armed motorcyclists opened fire at him in the remits of Waris Khan police station.
Apex courts had also rejected her acquittal pleas in the money laundering case however she was granted bail on securities to attend the lawful proceedings in the case.
