Customs court has approved Ayyan Ali’s one-day immunity from appearance before the court in currency smuggling case, local media reported on Thursday.
Judge Rana Aftab heard the currency smuggling case against Ayyan Ali.
Counsel for the defendant informed the court that Ali had to appear before Sindh High Court (SHC) in another case which is why she could not manage to attend the hearing.
The court entertained the request and ordered the party to make Ali’s presence sure in the next hearing. The hearing was adjourned as record of the case lies with the Islamabad High Court (IHC).
Earlier on April 22, Supreme Court (SC) had accepted Ali’s contempt of court plea against the Interior Ministry for hearing.
Singer’s counsel, Latif Khosa had filed a contempt of court plea in the Supreme Court against Interior Ministry and authorities concerned for not omitting her name from Exit Control List (ECL).
The plea highlighted the recent verdict given by the Supreme Court in the currency smuggling case. The court had allowed foreign tours to the supermodel.
The model had cited mother’s illness and business commitments reasons for urgency in the matter.
Ayyan had stated in her plea then that the Constitution of Pakistan gives freedom of transportation to every citizen and no action could be taken without following legal procedure in this regard.
Before Ali pulled the ministry in this, the Supreme Court had rejected Interior Ministry’s and customs authorities’ pleas challenging Sindh High Court’s (SHC) decision.
The high court had ordered the authorities to remove her name from the Exit Control List and let her travel abroad.
Ali was booked in March last year at Islamabad’s Benazir International Airport for attempting to smuggle US $506,800 to United Arab Emirates (UAE). Airport Security Force (ASF) had apprehended Ali before she allegedly boarded a private airline’s flight.
After almost nine months of her arrest, the model was indicted in the currency smuggling case but she pleaded not guilty to the charges.
