KARACHI: The Sindh High Court (SHC) on Tuesday granted protective bail to petitioner Muhammad Ashraf against the surety bonds of Rs 50,000 and directed him to surrenders himself before the trail court within 10 days in a tax evasion case. A single bench, comprising Justice Muhammad Saleem Jessar heard the special criminal bail petition.
During the hearing, counsel for the petitioner, Naimatullah Soomro advocate, argued that the petitioner is innocent and has falsely been implicated by the complainant/ customs officials in case FIR No 07/2018-R&D (East), under section 2 (s), 16, 32 A & 79, punishable under clauses, 1, 8 (i), 9, 14A, 45 & 46 of section 156 (1) of Customs Act, 1969, registered by Customs Collectorate Appraisement East, Customs House Karachi.
He further submitted that if the petitioner will be arrested, he will be subjected to maltreatment, disagreement and humiliated at the hands of officials, and that his reputation, prestige dignity and honour will be spoiled.
Counsel intends to approach the concerned court for appropriate relief but the customs officials in collusions with the complainant have cordoned the building as well as ways and paths leading towards the concerned court.
Counsel for the applicant further argued that applicant apprehends his arrest due the issue of non-bailable warrants against him by customs court, therefore, court may grant him protected bail.
After the hearing, court granted him bail and observed in its order that “ be that as it may, without going through the merits/ demerits of the case, applicant is admitted on protective bail for the period of ten days, from today, enabling him to appear and surrender before the customs court subject to his furnishing solvent surety in the sum of Rs/ 50,000, meanwhile, operation of non-bail able warrants, if any issued against him by the trail court, shall remain suspended for the intervening period”.
