ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) has temporarily suspended a $0.5 million fine imposed on supermodel Ayyan Ali, who is currently facing charges of currency smuggling.
The IHC granted a stay on an application by Ms Ali challenging an order of a customs collector that imposed a $0.5 million penalty on her for attempting to smuggle $0.5 million abroad.
While granted the stay, Justice Athar Minallah called for comments from the customs authorities by May 30. Ms Ali claimed that the fine was imposed on her without giving her an opportunity to defend herself.
On April 4, the customs collector (adjudication) imposed a fine on Ms Ali.
Through her counsel, Sardar Mohammad Latif Khosa, Ms Ali challenged the decision, saying she was shocked to learn of the impugned order through media. Her counsel said the customs collector imposed the fine after ex parte proceedings while the currency smuggling case is still pending.
In the petition, Mr Khosa said the supermodel’s work is spread over several countries, and she was under contractual obligations to travel to Dubai but her name was placed on the exit control list. It added that she was about to travel abroad after her name was removed from the ECL, when she was once again put on the no-fly list.
He said the customs authorities charged Ms Ali for currency smuggling even though she was not taking the money out of the country and was going to hand the sum over to her brother at the airport.
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