KARACHI: Customs Court dismissed bail petitions of suspects Muhammad Akif, Hamal Baloch and Fahad Ali, who were booked in a case of attempting to smuggled fraudulent clearance of restricted betel nuts in the garb of mixed used cloths for processing at Karachi Export Processing Zone (KEPZ).
On November 30, 2018, counsel for the applicant Muhammad Akif argued that there is no specific allegation has been leveled against his client and counsel for other two suspects argued that name of his clients are not mentioned in the FIR and they have been arrested without any involvement/ evidence.
Ashif Ali Anwar Rana, special prosecutor of the state, opposed these bail petitions. After their arguments, court announced order that “at this stage the bail applications cannot be entertained, hence these are dismissed.
According to the FIR, owners/partners/directors of M/s Hands Industries Private Limited imported a consignment and got it declared it as 19,000 kilograms used cloths worth Rs840,787; however, during the examination, customs team found 26985 kilogram betel nuts worth Rs4,986,828 and evaded the duties and taxes in the tune of Rs6,240,716.
He said that Muhammad Akif, Fahad Ali, Hammal Baloch and others are in judicial custody and however, owners/ directors of Hands Industries are still absconders and prosecution team is trying its best for their arrest.
