KARACHI: The Sindh High Court (SHC) has issued notice to a suspect, Shahid Khatri of M/s AZ Corporation, on a special criminal revision application filed by Directorate of Intelligence and Investigations, FBR Enforcement (Customs), challenging impugned judgment of the customs court in a case of mis-declaration of beers/ liquor. A two-member bench, headed by Justice Aziz-Ur-Rahman, heard the application.
Earlier, counsel for the applicant stated that M/s AZ Corporation, Karachi, with the connivance of their other associates, allegedly smuggled beer/ liquor by mis-declaration of its description, values and classification under the garb of import of fest liner. However, the staff of the directorate of general intercepted the consignment on 30/06/2014 and blocked its release.
According to the applicant, on 20/08/2015, the customs court framed charge against accused Jawad Chaffar, Shahid Khatri and others, however, Jawad Ghaffar pleaded guilty and left himself on the mercy of the court, therefore, the court convicted him already undergone period and fine him Rs 500,000. After a few days, Shahid Khatri also pleaded guilty and the court also convicted him the same sentence.
The counsel argued that suspect Shahid Khatri confined more than 15 months, however, he should have been awarded maximum punishment under the customs act, 1969 less than 5 years.
The counsel pleaded the court may set aside the impugned judgment, call the case record and enhanced the sentence according to the law.