Rawalpindi - A district and sessions court here on Friday extended the judicial remand of supermodel Ayyan Ali in money-laundering case.
Ayyan was presented before district and sessions court Judge Bahadur Ali amid strict security upon culmination of her 14-day remand. The customs department produced the model before the district and sessions court because the newly appointed judge of customs, anti-smuggling and taxation court has not assumed charge so far.
The customs investigators on Friday submitted the interim challan (charge-sheet) before the court which included two more names as co-accused in the case. The co-accused have been identified as Muhammad Awais, a businessman, and Mumtaz, a property dealer. Investigators informed the court that both the co-accused were living in Dubai and efforts were being made to hold and bring them back to Pakistan.
The district and sessions court expressed concern over delay in submission of challan (charge-sheet) and directed the investigators to submit complete challan. The court extended the hearing of the case till April 27.
Sardar Ishaq, the counsel for Ayyan Ali, also filed an application in the court, saying that customs investigators are making unprecedented delay in completing and presenting challan in the case.
During proceedings, Ayyan complained that she was suffering from allergies due to lack of cleanliness and health facilities in Adiala Jail.
She added that she was not being given any medicine. The court directed jail officials to provide Ayaan with medicines and proper health facilities.
Talking to The Nation, Sardar Ishaq expressed his complete unawareness about submission of challan by customs department in the court during the hearing. He, rather, came down hard on customs department saying, “Pakistan Customs is defying the law which says that complete or interim challan should be submitted before the court after fifteen days of the arrest of the accused.”
Responding to a question, he denied that his client was under pressure or was facing life threats in jail. He said that his client was a brave girl and she would not succumb to any pressure.
Ayyan Ali was arrested by customs officials on March 14 from Benazir Bhutto International Airport Islamabad after $508,000 were recovered from her possession.