KARACHI, April 15: Justice Ashraf Leghari of the Sindh High Court admitted an appeal filed by the state for regular hearing while issuing bailable warrants for the arrest of two alleged women smugglers of gold.
The state went into appeal against the acquittal of Ms Zubeda and Ms Khadeeja by a Special Customs Court in a case of smuggling 87 tolas of gold to Bombay (Mumbai) in 1987.
Mehmood Alam Rizvi, Standing Counsel, appearing for the state, submitted before the judge that during cross-examination no question was put to the prosecution witnesses by the defence counsel that the recovery of gold was foisted against them. This was a fit case for admission for regular hearing, contended the Standing Counsel.
The judge admitted the appeal and issued bailable warrants for the arrest while adjourning further hearing to a date to be fixed later.
According to the prosecution, Ms Zubeda was arrested at Karachi airport on 1-1-1987 on suspicion. During interrogation and checking, gold was recovered from a woven basket having outer cage consisting of hollow iron rods.
Zubeda then disclosed that she was a carrier hired by Mohammed Shafi and that the gold was owned by Ms Khadeeja, resident of Ranchhore Lines.
Mohammed Shafi was arrested outside the airport terminal building, and respondents/accused Khadeeja in her residence.
All the three were sent up for trial. Shafi, who was enlarged on bail, later absconded. The two respondents/accused were acquitted by the trial court giving them the benefit of doubt.
CONTEMPT NOTICE: Justice Zahid Kurban Alavi of the High Court of Sindh issued on Tuesday contempt of court notices to five office-bearers of Kathiawar Cooperative Society (KCS), including its honorary general-secretary Adam Mochara, for April 18.
Shamsuddin Khalid, advocate, in his contempt of court application on behalf of plaintiff Abdul Ghaffar Mehnati, submitted that alleged contemners Adam Mochara, Haroon Abdul Ghani Montex, Barkat Rizvi, Amin Ghazi and Taqvi violated an order earlier passed by the court.
According to the order, the defendants were restrained from disturbing the academic atmosphere for students studying at Sir Adamjee School, being run by the KCS.
After hearing the counsel for the plaintiff, the judge issued contempt of court notices to the contemners.
Wahid Yar Khan, District Education Officer, East, in a report submitted to EDO (Schools) Anwar Ahmedzai stated that the KCS was violating an agreement entered into at the time of denationalization and the KCS administration was trying to use the school’s space for commercial purposes.—APP
