Customs collector orders seizure of Ayyan’s dollars

Also slaps fine of $508,600 for not appearing in customs collectorate

RAWALPINDI: Collector customs, Islamabad, Ali Raza has ordered confiscation of US $508,600 recovered from model girl Ayyan Ali, who is nominated in the currency smuggling case

He has also slapped an equal amount in fine in a one-sided decision on a civil application moved by the department. Two of her witnesses, property purchaser Muhammad Owais and property dealer Mumtaz Hussain, have also been fined Rs500,000 each.



Customs department had asked the customs collector to confiscate the money; in his judgment the collector said that the accused failed to appear before the customs collectorate despite repeated notices to report.

Nisar advocate, junior lawyer for the model, said the customs officers were playing unfair tricks against his client despite the fact that the independent courts have given judgments in her favour.  He said he would file contempt of court cases against the erring officers, adding that his client did not receive any notice from any collector. The case is sub judice in the customs court and the collector has committed the contempt of court, he argued.



According to the law experts, an appeal can be filed in the customs appellate tribunal, which consists of two members: one being the judicial member and the other a bureaucrat.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 6^th, 2016.