RAWALPINDI: A Special Customs court formally charged supermodel Ayyan Ali with attempted currency smuggling on Thursday.

The case, which has dragged on for almost nine months now, was taken up by Special Customs Court Judge Rana Aftab Ahmed Khan. The model appeared in court along with her lawyer, former Punjab governor Latif Khosa, for a formal indictment and a charge-sheet against her was presented.

“These are just allegations and no solid proof has been presented against my client,” Mr Khosa argued.

He said that the authorities had impounded Ayyan Ali’s passport in order to prevent her from going abroad.

“This is against the law and is a violation of fundamental human rights. Nobody’s passport can be confiscated based on allegations,” he argued before the judge.

The judge then ordered the prosecution to summon witnesses at the next hearing, set for Dec 8, 2015.

Ms Ali was arrested from Benazir Bhutto International Airport on March 14, 2015 when over $500,000 was found in her luggage. She continues to deny the charges and was released on bail in July after spending three months in Adiala Jail.

Published in Dawn, November 20th, 2015