The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Monday adjourned Customs authorities’ plea against the decision of the Special Judged Custom Rawalpindi in connection with Ayyan Ali, a model passport Sapurdari case, for another week.
A single-judge bench of Justice Athar Minnallah adjourned the appeal due to unavailability of the litigant’s counsels. The bench was informed that Latif Khosa counsel for Ayyan and Prosecutor both were engaged in Lahore High Court.
Justice Athar while directing the litigants to make sure their appearance before the court on next date of hearing adjourned the matter for one week.
It is pertinent to mention here that the case was filed by Custom through Abdul Wahid Murrawat Additional Collector Customs Collectorate Islamabad.
Farhat Abbas Lodhi, Counsel for Customs, argued that passport was key evidence in money laundering case of worth US$ 506,800 adding that accused might leave the country to escape from judicial proceedings and her return to the country could be impossible once she flees.
He further requested the court to suspend the decision of Rawalpindi customs court as he alleged that it was passed without jurisdiction and lawful authority.
Name of the accused was already put on the Exit Control List (ECL) by the government so there was no need to return passport to her, Lodhi apprised the court. (APP)