ISLAMABAD: Customs Appellate Tribunal will hear famous Ayyan Ali’s money laundering case on Wednesday (today), said officials from tribunal.
According to the details, the appellant had prayed the tribunal to hold early hearing of the case. Tribunal’s division bench comprising Chairman, Justice (r) Manzoor Hussain and Ziauddin Wazir would hear the case.
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 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 $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 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 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.
