KARACHI: The Special Court of Customs Taxation and Anti-Smuggling has imposed a penalty of Rs 100, 000 each on three suspected smugglers after they pleaded guilty to smuggling of huge quantity of liquor into the country and ordered their release.
According to the details of the case, in February this year, the Pakistan Customs had caught a launch loaded with smuggled liquor. The customs officials said around 3,076 bottles of beer and wine were recovered from the launch which was coming from Dubai and caught off the Makran Coast. Three suspects Muhammad Yousuf, Bilawal and Abdul Majeed were arrested.
Subsequently an FIR was registered against them and others including Hashim, Muhammad Shabbir and Fida Umar, who are still at large. The court had issued non-bailable warrants for their arrest but they could not be traced.
At the outset, the counsel for the accused persons submitted an application to the court, telling it that his clients, who are in prison for more than six months, are pleading guilty to the crime and begging for the mercy.
Judge Syed Faiz Rasool Rashdi announced verdict on the application, imposing a fine of Rs 100,000 each on accused. The court ordered their release if they pay the fine since they have served more than six months in prison.
