KARACHI: Saleem Raza s/o Abdul Ali and  Ahmed Raza Directors of Al-Hamd Textile was admitted to Bail Before Arrest (BBA) against a solvent surety of rupees 100000 each by the Special Court for Customs, Karachi.

The accused/applicant was represented by Franklin Law Associates. The accused was wanted in a FIR Appg-dc1/R&A/ Al Hamd Textile/F.I.R/2021 registered by the  Directorate General of Intelligence & Investigations (DIT) against owners/ directors/proprietors of M/s Al Hamd Textile situated at Karachi Export Processing Zone.

The case pertains to two Goods declaration wherein old and used cloth was imported. They were charged for smuggling of goods imported under SRO-450(1)/2001 for processing and re-export from KEPZ but instead of re-export, the goods were smuggled into the tariff area without payment of  duty and taxes. They were accused of evading a total of rupees 794569 payable against Custom Duty, Additional Custom Duty,  Regulatory Duty, Sales Tax and Income Tax.

A counsel from Franklin Law Associates submitted that criminal proceedings were initiated in haste while Collector concerned could have initiated recovery proceedings.

The trial court judge after hearing initial arguments admitted the applicants/ accused to bail before arrest against a solvent surety of rupees 100000 each.