RAWALPINDI - Famous Pakistani model, singer and actress, Ayyan Ali, held on the charge of smuggling $506,800 out of the country from Rawal Lounge of the Islamabad airport, told the investigators and the customs court that Khalid Malik, the brother of Senator Rehman Malik, had given her the money to take the same to the US, reliable sources disclosed to The Nation on Saturday.
The court made the statement of Ayyan Ali, 22, part of the court proceedings and sent her to Adiala Jail on a 14-day judicial remand.
Well-placed official sources informed The Nation that the confession of the model would be given weight during a judicial inquiry into the incident.
“If the statement of Ayyan Ali proves true, Khalid Malik will be probed in the case as per law,” the sources added. An official who was part of the investigation stated, on condition of anonymity, Ayyan Ali claimed she was not aware of the fact that carrying such a huge amount via an airline was a crime.
According to details, a team of Pakistan Customs produced the model in the court of Special Customs Judge Chaudhry Muhammad Hussain after she was arrested for attempting to smuggle $506,800 at Benazir Bhutto Islamabad International Airport (BBIIAP).
The team sought a 14-day physical remand, but the judge rejected the plea and sent Ayyan to Adiala Jail on a 14-day judicial remand.
Earlier, she was taken to the district headquarters hospital (DHQ) for a medical test amid political pressure for her release.
A source revealed Khalid Malik was also present in the hospital at the time of her medical checkup. However, he managed to avoid media persons.
It was learnt that Ayyan Ali had filed a bail plea in the Customs Court, which was accepted for hearing.
Talking to media persons, Deputy Collector Customs Naveed Bugvi said the customs staff arrested a female passenger at Benazir Bhutto Islamabad International Airport (BBIIAP) for attempting to smuggle foreign currency worth $506,800. Later, she was identified as Ayyan Ali, a supermodel and actress, he added.
He said the model was going to Dubai by flight EK-615. “We received specific information that an attempt of currency smuggling will be made through Rawal Lounge. Customs Collector Zeba Azhar formed a special vigilance team which, with the help of ASF, caught the accused at 1:15am, while trying to smuggle the huge amount to Dubai,” he said. A case was lodged against her and further investigation was underway, he added.
Despite several attempts, Khalid Malik, the brother of Senator Rehman Malik, could not be contacted for his comments. However, Rehman Malik, while talking to this scribe by phone, denied that his brother was involved in the money laundering attempt.
The former interior minister questioned how she knew that Khalid Malik was his brother and how she knew who Rehman Malik was. “There are many people whose names are Khalid Malik. My brother Khalid Malik is abroad,” Malik claimed.