KARACHI: Justice Omar Sial of High Court of Sindh suspended operation of an order passed in criminal petition filed under Section 22-A passed by District & Sessions Judge Malir directing DG F.I.A to order inquiry against Collector of Customs Jinnah International airport.

Collector Muhammad Nadeem Memon, Arsalan Bashir, Mohsin Shehzad and Miss Arbeen officers of Pakistan Customs were nominated in the case. The case was filed by two passengers of foreign origin from whom US $ 40000 were detected by ASF staff through scanner.

ASF handed over the passengers namely Pharadon Suwannapratra and Miss Chanida Judepetjan to Pakistan Customs which then after due legal process seized the currency equivalent to Rupees 8,989,200. A show cause was also issued and adjudication proceedings were underway while the accused person filed the criminal complaint alleging that currency was taken out by custom officials who also maltreated them and gave threats of dire consequences. The petition was allowed with direction to DG F.I.A for a probe.

Khalid Rajpar Advocate appearing for the custom officers challenged the order on ground that accused official were not heard by the Sessions court.

The learned single judge after hearing preliminary arguments ordered issuance of notices to respondents for March 14 while suspending the impugned order till next date of hearing.