KARACHI: Custom Court Judge Faiz Rasool Rashdi has granted bail to suspect Ghulam Hussain son of Ghulam Nabi and Abdul Ghani son of Ghulam Qadir, who had made an alleged attempt to smuggle 3,163 liters of Iranian diesel.
During the hearing, the counsel for the applicants submitted that the applicants are innocent and were falsely implicated in this case; therefore, the court may grant bails to them. However, Jamila Siraj, special prosecutor for the state /coast guard argued that both the accused were carrying Iranian smuggled diesel. Hence, no case for bail is made out and this bail application may be rejected.
The court was informed that investigation officer submitted final challan wherein Arif Humayun shown as absconder but today he appeared before this court in other cases. Applicant surrendered himself before the court and moved pre-arrest bail plea through his council.
After hearing arguments from both sides, the court granted bail to applicants against the surety bonds of Rs 50,000 in each case and observed in its order, “the role of both applicants/ accused is yet to be determined when the evidence is brought on record during trial. The challan has been filed; therefore, in my view the present case for further enquiry is made out “.
According to the prosecution, creditable information was received on June 17, 2016 that Iranian diesel is being smuggled through oil tanker from district Lasbella to Karachi super highway, without complying with legal formalities. The customs officials started checking the vehicles. Hino oil tanker bearing registration No TK Z-078 was intercepted at super highway post near toll plaza. The officials recovered 3,163 litres of diesel and asked the driver to show documents but he remained fail to do the same.
According to the investigation, after seizing / recovery of Iranian diesel, both accused persons were arrested and FIR No 1002/2016 was lodged under Section 156 (1) (8) of the Custom Act, 1969.
