ISLAMABAD: The money laundering case against supermodel Ayyan Ali on Tuesday echoed in the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) during the discussion of an audit para related to a foreign currency seizure case.

Ayyan was caught at the Benazir Bhutto International Airport Islamabad on March 14 while attempting to board a Dubai-bound flight with half a million dollars.

Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) Chairman Tariq Bajwa informed the committee that though the supermodel was booked on the charges of currency smuggling, a new law was promulgated in April under which carrying more than $10,000 was an offence punishable under the Anti-Money Laundering Act.

Officials during the scrutiny of audit objections of FBR’s accounts for year 2010-11 pointed out that the Model Customs Collectorate at Karachi seized foreign currency equivalent to Rs5.18 million but did not deposit it in the National Bank of Pakistan (NBP) or the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP).

“Where did the customs officials keep the foreign currency?” asked PAC member Mehmood Khan Achakzai. “It was kept at the airport,” the FBR chairman replied.

“Ayyan was also in the possession of the same amount at the airport but you put her behind bars and spared your own officials,” Achakzai said.

The FBR officials kept the foreign currency at some safe place at the airport which was permissible under the law while Ayyan was trying to smuggle it abroad.

“Where did you keep the money confiscated by Ayyan?” asked Arif Alvi, another PAC member. He said it had been learnt through the media that the FBR was not vigorously pursuing the case against the supermodel.

Member Raja Javed Ikhlas said it was the first time when the supermodel was caught red-handed and the FBR should probe how frequently she used to travel abroad and how much money she had already smuggled out.

“These are mere assumptions that FBR has taken a lenient view against Ayyan,” said Mr Bajwa, adding the customs authorities after confiscating the amount from the model registered a case against her and produced her before the competent court of law. She has not been indicted as yet and the FBR would produce evidence against her once her trial commences, he added.

“We also obtained the details of moveable and immovable properties of the model and also checked how much income tax she pays,” he added.

Sardar Ashiq Hussain Gopang of the PAC asked whether the seized currency was kept at some designated place at the airport or not. In response, Mr Bajwa said it was kept at a safe place at the airport. He said the amount may be refunded to the accused in case the court issues such an order.

Published in Dawn, October 7th, 2015

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