KARACHI: Customs Court Judge Syed Faiz Rasool Rashdi on Friday extended pre-arrested bail of suspect namely Iqbal Hyat Paracha, owner of M/s Balochistan Enterprises Karachi, who was booked in a case of attempting to smuggle 27170 kilograms of betel nuts in the garb of wax granules.
During the hearing, counsel for the applicant filed bail petition and argued that petitioner is innocent and was falsely implicated in this case, who is ready for face trail, however, he has apprehension of arrest, therefore, court may grant bail till final order in this case.
Earlier, investigation officer had produced First Information Report (FIR) No 05/2018 before the court and informed that on credible information, officials of the customs department intercepted a consignment destined for Quetta, at Qasim International Container Terminal Karachi (QICT) which was going to be gate out un-examined, the goods have been imported and transhipment goods declaration file by M/s Balochistan Enterprises by mis-declaration therein goods as wax granules.
He submitted that QICT’s staff, shipper’s seal of the container was removed and examination process started jointly with the AO-CIU, and during examination, the goods were found as betel nuts net weight 2717 kgs, origin not shown, instead of the ones declared by the importers in the goods declaration.
Investigation officer further said that during the preliminary inquiry into the matter has revealed that the importers do not have a valid import permit, valid phytosanitary certificate and release order of the department of plant protection, ministry of national food security and research to import the recovered betel nuts as compulsorily required in terms of serial no 221 of part-III of Appendix-B to the IPO, 2016, on contrary, the importer have tried to get clearance of the above mentioned restricted item though mis-declaration in serious violation of the mandatory provisions of law and procedure.
