KARACHI: The Customs Court granted after arrest bail to suspects namely Muhammad Imran son of Niaz Ahmed and Nasir Abbas son of Manzoor Hussain, who were nominated in a case of attempting to smuggle non-duty paid smuggled betel nuts etc.
On 18 August 2020, during the hearing, Mrs Samia Durrani, advocate for the applicants and Ch Saeed-uz-Zaman, special prosecutor for the customs department appeared before the court.
During the hearing, court heard the both parties, according to prosecution’s own case the present applicants are the driver/ co-driver of the vehicle bearing registration no GLTA-8891 from which 6,498 kgs foreign origin betel nuts were recovered, the offence falls under clause (89) of section 156 (1) of the customs act, 1969 which is punishable with six years imprisonment and as such does not fall within the prohibitory clause of section 497 CR. PC application of section 156 (1) (8) of the customs act, 1969 requires probe.
Court further observed that the interim charge sheet has been submitted and evidential material has been collected against the applicants by the investigation officer, the custody of the applicants is no more required by the prosecution, accordingly bail is granted to the applicants subject to furnishing their solvent surety in the sum of Rs 200,000 each and P.R bond of the like amount to the satisfaction of this court.
According to the prosecution, case was registered against abovementioned suspects for violation of under section 156 (1) (8) (89) of the customs act, 1969.