KARACHI: Customs Court Judge Syed Faiz Rasool Rashdi has acquitted accused, Zulafqar Ali on benefit of doubt in a case of attempting to evade the custom duty and others taxes amounting to Rs 600,000.
During the hearing, counsel for the accused submitted that the applicant was innocent and has falsely been implicated in this case and never involved in any illegal activity. The counsel argued that prosecution has miserably failed to prove the charge against the applicant; therefore, court may acquit the applicant. However, counsel for the department submitted that it has proven the case and provided all evidences before this court. Therefore court may convict the accused as capital punishment.
After the arguments from both sides, the court acquitted the accused and observed in its own order, “in view of discussion the charge against the present accused is not proved and which extending the benefit of doubt, therefore, the court acquits the accused from the charge, he was present on bail and his bail bonds stands discharged”.
According to the charge sheet, on January 17, 2014, the customs staff intercepted Toyota Hiace van bearing Registration No RO-541 ( Sukkur ), chassis no LH 3-0003754, engine no 3L -045789, model 2000, engine capacity 2779 at customs check post and found it smuggled/non-duty paid. The accused was owner of the seized vehicle and evaded the custom duty and others taxes amounting to Rs 600,000.
FIR was registered by customs authorities under section 156 (1) (8) (89) of the Customs Act, 1969. The accused was on bail which was granted by custom court on March 06, 2014 against surety bond of Rs 200,000.
