Court reserves verdict on Ayyan Ali's appeal

Appeal filed seeking retraction of arrest warrants, forgiveness for non-appearance in court hearing

RAWALPINDI: A customs court in Rawalpindi on Friday reserved its verdict on three appeals filed by currency smuggling accused model Ayyan Ali, reported Express News.

During the hearing, the prosecutor requested the court to declare the fashion model as an absconder due to her "intentional" absence from court proceedings.

“The accused has been missing hearings for the last two years,” he said as he asked Judge Irshad Hussain Bhutta to initiate proceedings against Ayyan’s bail.



The defence counsel countered and said Ayyan would appear for the hearing if the court de-notifies arrest warrants issued in her name.

The counsels wrapped up arguments in the three appeals filed by Ayyan’s lawyer seeking retraction of the arrest warrants, forgiving her for non-appearance and for having two trials in the same case.

Reserving the verdict, the judge said the decision will be announced on January 23.

Case history

In March 2015, the model had been arrested by Airport Security Force (ASF) from Rawalpindi's old Benazir International Airport. She was carrying $506,800 in currency that she was allegedly trying to smuggle to the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

After four months in Adiala Jail, Ayyan was granted bail in July 2016.