KARACHI: The Customs Court granted bail to suspects Toheed Akhtar and Muhammad Ishaq, who were booked in a case of attempting to smuggle non-duty paid betel nuts.
On January 12, 2019, counsel for accused filed bail petition and argued that his clients are innocents and are falsely implicated in this case, they are ready to submit surety and assure the court for attending each and every date of hearing.
After the hearing, the court granted their bail against the surety of Rs1,00,000 and directed them to appear on next date of hearing without fail.
Earlier, investigation officer of Customs Appraisement Port Muhammad Bin Qasim submitted interim challan against the above-mentioned and other suspects and informed the court that on an actionable information, customs officials intercepted a Nissan truck bearing registration no: TLG 369 and recovered 175 gunny bags containing foreign origin betel nuts each weighing 17500 kilograms, bearing mark as M/s Chai Trading Co Ltd and Nawaz-I (Njunu). Total value of the bags is Rs4,812,500.
He further submitted that suspects Toheed Akhtar and Muhammad Ishaq are in jail on judicial custody, however, prosecution is trying its best for arrest of absconding suspects namely Muhammad Suleman, Sanaullah and Asmatullah Khan,
After the hearing, the court accepted interim challan and issued non-bailable warrants against absconding suspects.
The case was registered against them for violation of Section 2 (s) 156 (2) 157 (2) and 178 of Customs Act, 1969 punishable under Clause 8 & 89 of Section 156 (i) ibid read with Section 3(i) of Imports & Export Control Act, 1950.
