KARACHI: Custom Court Judge Faiz Rasool Rashdi has granted bail to a suspect, Muhammad Farooq, who was allegedly involved in mis-declaration of two consignments of imported fabrics.
During the hearing, the counsel for the accused submitted that the applicant is neither importer nor clearing agent and did not have any concern with the imported consignments. He further argued that the applicant was innocent and had falsely been implicated in this case. Therefore, the court was requested to grant pre-arrest bail to Muhammad Farooq.
However, counsel for the state opposed bail application. After hearing the arguments, court granted bail to applicant against the surety bonds of Rs 200,000. The court adjourned the hearing and will take up for bail confirmation on next date of hearing.
Meanwhile, Special Court of Customs Taxation and Anti-Smuggling issued notice to tax authorities on an application filed by Gul Wali seeking acquittal in a dumper truck smuggling case.
While the hearing of an application, the Judge Syed Faiz Rasool Rashdi sought comments from the Collector of Customs, Customs House Hyderabad, Special Anti-Smuggling Squad Larkana as well as law officer of the Customs department on July 16,2016.
Earlier, the accused namely Gul Wali moved the application under section 265-K of the Code of Criminal Procedure, Section 265-K of CrPC empowers a court to acquit an accused at any stage and submitted that there is no evidence available on record against the applicant. The accused counsel added that the neither he has the connivance nor has any knowledge about the alleged offence and freely importable in current import policy nor prohibited nor restricted.
He further argued that applicant is ready to furnish solvent surety up to the entire satisfaction of this court for release of the vehicle which was also released by the Customs Appellate Tribunal bench-I, Karachi. They prayed to the court to allow application under section 265-K CrPC accordance with law in the best interest of the justice.
According to the prosecution, on an information on 08, October 2013, officials of the customs authorities had seize the smuggled vehicle (dumper No TKY-960 ) in plying Sukkur.
On the spot customs ‘ staff had signaled to the dumper driver to stop but driver did not stop the vehicle and accelerated its speed.However, officials of the customs intercepted the vehicle and seized the same ,FIR also was registered by Customs authorities.