KARACHI: The Sindh High Court (SHC) has adjourned the hearing of appeal filed by Director, Directorate General of investigation & intelligence, the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) against judgment of the custom court which convicted the suspects, Haji Sadiq and Zeshan, till rising of the court and imposed fine of Rs 50,000 is a case of contraband smuggled Indian origin cigarettes, ghtkhha and naswar.
A single bench, comprising Justice Muhammad Iqbal Kalhwar, heard the appeal. During the hearing, the counsel for the applicant was reportedly busy; therefore, the court adjourned the hearing for the date which would be announced by the office of the SHC.
Earlier, counsel for the applicant stated in its appeal that on a credible information, on June 2014, a team of the anti-smuggling organization raided at Yousef Plaza Cantilenas Marriott Road, Karachi and had recovered foreign origin cigarettes assorted brand & origin 1289 cartons which comprising 64400 dandas and 12880000 sticks, 19 cartons of Indian Origin Ghutkha and 64 boras hot naswar.
However, when the above named accused persons were appeared before the custom court, instead of appearing before the investigation officer, court charged framed against the accused persons and court convicted them till rising of court and also imposed fine of Rs.50, 000 on plead guilty.
Counsel for the applicant argued that since, the impugned judgment passed by the court, suffered from serious legal infirmities, hence.
Citing Haji Sadiq S/O Haji Kamran Khan and Zeeshan S/O Muhammad Aslam (accused persons) as respondents, applicant pleaded that SHC may be pleased to call for record and proceedings from the custom court and after examining and hearing the applicant, may be further pleased to set aside impugned order or/ remand or pass any just order in the circumstances of the case.
