Money laundering case: Ayyan denies link with any ‘political leader’
Her judicial remand is extended till July 13
Her judicial remand is extended till July 13. PHOTO: EXPRESS
RAWALPINDI:
In her first remarks before the court, supermodel Ayyan Ali denied claims on Monday that she was associated with any “political leader”, dismissing it as a “cheap” insinuation.
“I have no link with any political leader,” Ayyan told Judge Rana Aftab Ahmed Khan of the customs court. She said linking her to a political leader is nothing but a “cheap” insinuation.
On Monday, the customs court extended her judicial remand till July 13.
This is the 14th time the model has been sent on judicial remand since her arrest on May 14, 2015 when she was caught carrying $500,000 at Islamabad airport.
Pleading her innocence, Ayyan said the money was legal and belonged to her. According to her, she had never intended to take the money abroad. The supermodel said she had to hand over the amount to her brother who was arriving at Islamabad airport from Dubai the same evening.
Ayyan said she was being denied her basic rights as suspects arrested for laundering Rs250 million and Rs160 million were granted bail but her bail applications have been rejected.
The supermodel’s bail petitions have been rejected twice, once each by the Rawalpindi bench of the Lahore High Court and the Lahore High Court itself. She said if she is granted bail, she would not run away from the country. “Pakistan is my country. I will stay here and prove my innocence.”
The hearing of the customs application has also been adjourned till July 11.
Ayyan refused to meet her father Raja Hafeez who had come to the court on Monday.
Published in The Express Tribune, July 7th, 2015.
In her first remarks before the court, supermodel Ayyan Ali denied claims on Monday that she was associated with any “political leader”, dismissing it as a “cheap” insinuation.
“I have no link with any political leader,” Ayyan told Judge Rana Aftab Ahmed Khan of the customs court. She said linking her to a political leader is nothing but a “cheap” insinuation.
On Monday, the customs court extended her judicial remand till July 13.
This is the 14th time the model has been sent on judicial remand since her arrest on May 14, 2015 when she was caught carrying $500,000 at Islamabad airport.
Pleading her innocence, Ayyan said the money was legal and belonged to her. According to her, she had never intended to take the money abroad. The supermodel said she had to hand over the amount to her brother who was arriving at Islamabad airport from Dubai the same evening.
Ayyan said she was being denied her basic rights as suspects arrested for laundering Rs250 million and Rs160 million were granted bail but her bail applications have been rejected.
The supermodel’s bail petitions have been rejected twice, once each by the Rawalpindi bench of the Lahore High Court and the Lahore High Court itself. She said if she is granted bail, she would not run away from the country. “Pakistan is my country. I will stay here and prove my innocence.”
The hearing of the customs application has also been adjourned till July 11.
Ayyan refused to meet her father Raja Hafeez who had come to the court on Monday.
Published in The Express Tribune, July 7th, 2015.