KARACHI: Customs Taxation and Anti-Smuggling Court Judge Syed Faiz Rasool Rashdi has granted pre-arrest bails to suspect Muhammad Uzair Gheewala, partner/ director of M/s Integra Trading Company, Umer Farooq and Muhammad Zubair Gheewala who were booked in a duty and tax evasion case of R s 34.3 million.
During the hearing, counsel for the accused persons appeared before the court and moved applications for pre-arrest bails. The counsel argued that his clients were innocent and were falsely implicated in this case. The prosecution has no evidence against them. He said that the suspects were ready to face trail, therefore, the court might grant them bail till final judgment of the case.
After the hearing, the court granted them bails against the surety bonds of Rs 200,000 and directed them to appear before the court on the next date of hearing.
Court also issued notices to special prosecutor for customs department and investigation officer and directing them to file comments on next date of hearing.
According to the prosecution, suspects namely Shakeel Ahmed son of Muhammad Amin, partner/ director of M/s Raja Shakeel Traders Pvt Ltd, Muhammad Abdul son of Muhammad Akbar, partner/ director of M/s Raja Shakeel Traders Pvt Ltd, Muhammad Uzair son of Muhammad Suhail, Gheewala, partner/ director of M/s Integra Trading Co, Azeemuddin son of Qamar, partner/ director of M/SsPaper Win, Mirza Muhammad Abbas son of Muhammad Husnain Mirza, partner/ director of M/s Royal Steel and others connivance and collusion with each other, by clearing 50 consignments of iron and steel galvanized/ cold rolled coils imported from South Korea, Vietnam and others through submission of bogus Pak-China FTA origin certificates for benefit of Pak-China FTA, and evaded the duty and taxes to the tune of Rs 34.3 million.
Case was registered against them for violation of under section 32 (1) (2) and 32A read with section (8) 19 and 79 of the Customs Act, 1969 punishable under clause 156 (1) (10A) (14) and (14A) ibid further read with section 3, 6, 33 and 34 of the Sales Tax Act 1990 and section of Income Tax Ordinance 2001.
