Supermodel Ayyan Ali. PHOTO: EXPRESS
Government has expressed apprehension that there is a possibility of Ayyan leaving the country to escape the money laundering case proceedings against her.
The appeal, filed through Collector of Customs Model Customs Collectorate on Tuesday, says the disputed judgment is illegal, unlawful without jurisdiction and authority, and also against facts on record.
The judgment is not sustainable as Ayyan was arrested red-handed and recovery of huge foreign currency was made, which she wanted to take abroad without prior permission of the State Bank of Pakistan and the offence falls under the prohibitory clause, the appeal adds.
SHC orders removal of Ayyan’s name from ECL
The supermodel was arrested by customs officials from the Benazir Bhutto International Airport, Islamabad in March 2015 after $506,800 were recovered from her luggage. However, Ayyan denies the money laundering charges.
She was released from Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi after almost four months in detention.
A divisional bench of the SHC had ordered on March 7 the removal of supermodel’s name from the ECL.
Ayyan had moved the high court against the ban on her movement outside the country.
Her lawyer, Sardar Latif Khosa, argued placing her name on the ECL was a violation of fundamental rights, and Article 18 of the Constitution.
Ayyan cannot be allowed to leave country: interior ministry
Earlier, the court had directed customs authorities to file comments on Ayyan’s petition. The interior ministry said her name was put on the ECL on the request of customs officials.
The ministry said that since a case against her was sub judice, she could not be allowed to leave the country.
On December 1, a customs court in Rawalpindi had returned Ayyan’s passport after she submitted two surety bonds worth Rs1 million each, and a document of personal guarantee.
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