KARACHI: The Customs Court approved pre-arrest bail of Sheikh Mehmoodul Haq, director/ proprietor/ partner of M/s Mehmood Steel Furnace, Sikandar Mirza, proprietor of M/s Realex International, Omer Latif, Assistant Collector Customs Appraisement & Facilitation, PMBQ and Waqar Khan, Examining Officer of Appraisement & Facilitation, PMBQ, who were booked in a mega tax evasion case.
On 13 August 2020, above mentioned accused persons appeared before the court along with their counsels and argued that their clients are innocents and have been falsely implicated in this case who are ready to face trail, however, they have apprehension of arrest, therefore, court may grant their pre-arrest bail till final judgment in this case.
After the hearing, court granted their bail and directed them to appear before the court on next date of hearing without fail or otherwise.
Earlier, investigation officer had submitted that on a credible information above mentioned importer and clearing agent in connivance and collusion with others are involved in import and clearance of iron and steel re-rollable scrap/ iron & steel over size bars by mis-declaring actual description and quantity of the goods causing huge loss to public exchequer.
He further submitted that during examination of their consignment and investigation, it has been established without any shadow of doubt that above mentioned suspects and other associates-in-crime have indulged in deliberate and engineered mis-declaration of description and quantity of the actual goods imported to evade duty and taxes and they evaded the duty and taxes Rs9,022,347.
He said that first information report (FIR) has been registered against them and efforts are underway to arrest the nominated accused persons mentioned above, further investigation is in progress, role of the other associates in crime is also being ascertained.
