GUJAR KHAN: Raja Mohammad Hafeez, the father of supermodel Ayyan Ali, was shot and injured by two unidentified motorcyclists near Gujar Khan on Saturday morning.

According to the police, Mr Hafeez, a resident of Gujar Khan, was driving to the court of the customs judge in Rawalpindi where his daughter was to appear in connection with the money laundering case. Ayyan was arrested at the Benazir Bhutto International Airport on the charge of trying to take about 0.5 million dollars out of the country on March 10.

According to the Gujar Khan police, the unidentified attackers riding a motorbike approached his car at about 7:30am. A sub-inspector of the Gujar Khan police, who reached the crime scene soon after the incident, quoted Mr Hafeez as saying that the two attackers were wearing helmets and the man sitting on the pillion opened fire on him. He said a bullet hit Mr Hafeez in the shoulder. The injured was taken to the Benazir Bhutto Hospital for the removal of the bullet.

A police officer requesting anonymity told Dawn that a few days ago the model’s father had lodged a complaint with the Morgah police alleging that two motorcyclists overtook his car near the Fauji Foundation Hospital and threatened him of dire consequences if he did not distance himself from the money laundering case registered against his daughter.

Raja Mohammad Hafeez was going to Rawalpindi for the hearing of money laundering case against his daughter when two motorcyclists attacked him

Ayyan’s father had also told the media that people involved in the money laundering case against his daughter were threatening him. He claimed that the money recovered from his daughter did not belong to her, adding she was being pressured by certain people. According to the local sources, Mr Hafeez worked in a Gulf state in the past and is now running a property business in Gujar Khan.

Remand extended

In Rawalpindi, the special court for customs, excise and taxation on Saturday extended the judicial remand of Ayyan for another fortnight.

Chaudhry Mumtaz Hussain, the judge of the court, also rejected the request of the supermodel seeking ‘B’ class in the Adiala jail.

Clad in a traditional black veil (burqa), Ayyan was produced before the judge by the customs officials. The prosecution also produced an interim investigation report before the court.

Zargham Dil Khan, the investigating officer of the customs department, informed the court that they had recorded the statements of Ayyan and her father. He said the investigation team still required to record the testimonies of some other material witnesses. Mr Khan requested the court to extend the remand for another 14 days after which the prosecution would submit the challan against the model.

Subsequently, the judge adjourned further proceedings till April 11 and directed the customs officials to produce the model in the court again on the said date.

Her lawyers on the other hand opposed the extension in the remand. They argued that the customs officials had distorted the fact to fabricate the case against r. They requested the court to release the model instead of extending her remand.

The lawyers also requested the court to provide ‘B’ class to Ayyan in the jail.

The prosecution, on the other hand, pointed out that being an accused of money laundering and smuggling, the supermodel was not entitled to any preferential treatment in the jail and should be kept in the regular barracks.

Published in Dawn, March 29th, 2015

On a mobile phone? Get the Dawn Mobile App: Apple Store | Google Play