KARACHI: The Special Court of Customs Taxation and Anti-Smuggling has imposed a fine of Rs 500,000 on a suspect when he pleaded guilty to his role in smuggling of liquor into the country and ordered his release after payment of the penalty.
Judge Syed Faiz Rasool Rashdi announced the verdict after suspect Shahid Khatri pleaded guilty in the case.
According to the prosecution, Pakistan Customs Directorate of Intelligence and Investigation had seized a huge quantity of whisky and alcohol beverages of assorted brands which were concealed inside 18 rolls of test liner and recycle liner paper.
The goods seized included 3,340 bottles of Black Label, 1,030 bottles of Red Label, 993 bottles of White & Mac, 298 bottles of Cattos, 181 bottles of Vodka, 260 bottles of Cordier, 212 bottles of Grant, 1 bottle of Medoc, four bottles of Listel, 141 bottles of Chivas Regal, 293 cases of 6,816 cans of Beer Carlsberg.
Subsequently, an FIR was registered against accused Abdul Dawood, the proprietors of M/s A-Z Corporation, his accomplices Shahid Khatri, Muhammad Zubair, Jawad Ghaffar, Rashid Iqbal, and Saleem aka Mamo.
Shahid Khatri has been behind the bars for over fourteen months. Earlier in August, Jawad Ghafar had confessed to his involvement in the crime. The court imposed a fine of Rs 500,000 on him and ordered his release since he had served over five months in prison.
