KARACHI:-The hearing of bail applications in seven different FIRs filed by a clearing agent of US Consulate at Karachi was adjourned till September 16 by Justice Niamatullah Phulpoto here Friday.
Ghulam Masood Bawany of Ghani International, an authorized representative of Consulate General of USA Karachi sought bail in FIRs registered under section 2(S), 16, 32 (1), 32 (A), 121,127,128,129, 209 of the Customs Act 1969 read with Rule 9(XI), 11 (IV) of CGO no 10/2012 dated 1-7-2012 Bonded Carrier Licencing Rules under sub chapter XIV of Chapter XXV of Customs Rules vide SRO 450 (1) of 2001 dated 18-1-2001, Section 3 (1) of the Import and Export Control Act 1950 and Import Policy and Procedure Order 2012013 punishable under Clause 8, 14, 14A, 43, 47, 63, 64, 81, 82 and 86 of the sub section (1) of Section 156 of Customs Act 1969.
The Special Judge Customs and Taxation earlier rejected the bail application of accused applicant in custody since May 2015. According to FIR, accused filed a GD (Goods Declaration) on 4-5-2015 through WeBOC system at Directorate of Transit Trade Peshawar (Torkham) claiming a consignment containing 12x 20 containers of US Army Reserve Cargo having Generator Power with Transformer and equipment. The gross weighment of the consignment was 2259 MT loaded on vehicles bearing registration numbers TLK 710, BLN 1772, K 7839, TLA 157C1390 for transit to Karachi for export to Duabi. According to FIR , the consignment was scanned at which scanned images and weighment slips didn’t matched with the GD filed by the accused. The consignment was then physically examined in the presence of independent Mushirs. It was found that Generator sets have been removed from the containers and pilferage was made in a manner that seals remained intact.
The customs authorities held it to be “an established case of pilferage of goods during transit by the bonded carrier” in connivance with the clearing agent. The accused were then booked under above section of Customs Act 1969.
Today the bench by consent of respondents/prosecution and counsel for applicant adjourned hearing of bail application till Sept 16. The bench fixed the time of hearing to be 11 a.m on next date.