KARACHI: Justice Faheem Ahmed Siddiqui of High Court of Sindh (SHC) on Wednesday dismissed a criminal revision application challenging an order of Special Customs Courts rejecting acquittal plea of accused/applicant M Farooq.
According to details, applicant/accused was booked by Pakistan Customs after his email was used for filing two Goods Declaration in respect of consignments of soap noddles. The consignment was imported by M Shahid, owner of Talha Trading who was also booked in the case, Shahid pleaded guilty and has also paid the amount of custom duty and taxes as assessed by the Pakistan Customs.
Arguing the revision application, Ms Dil Khurram Shaheen advocate submitted that trial court dismissed the acquittal plea filed under section 265-K of Cr.P.C without assigning any reason. He is neither the importer, nor a clearing agent, she contended.
The state counsel/counsel for department opposing the revision submitted that department sought a report from FIA’s cybercrime wing which said that email was sent from account of accused/applicant.
The SHC bench after hearing the arguments from both sides dismissed the revision application on ground that trial is yet to commence and therefore revision application is pre-mature at this stage. The bench further held that prima facie applicant/accused was connected to the crime as his email was used in evading government levies.