Court rejects Class-B status for Ayyan in jail

Rawalpindi
District and Sessions Judge-Special Court (Customs, Taxation & Anti-Smuggling) Judge Chaudhry Muhammad Mumtaz Hussain on Saturday rejected to grant Class-B status in Adiala Jail to supermodel Ayyan Ali, an accused in money laundering-cum-smuggling case.
The court has also extended for 14 days the judicial remand of the supermodel, who was arrested on March 14, 2015, from Benazir Bhutto International Airport for attempting to fly out to Dubai with over $0.5 million.
After the termination of her earlier 14-day judicial demand period, Ayyan was presented before the court of Justice Mumtaz Hussain Chaudhry in Customs Department vehicle on Saturday. An investigation team comprising Customs Department personnel was also present in the court. Ayyan was clad in a traditional ‘burqa’ with a face veil when she was brought in the court amid tight security.
Her lawyer Khurram Latif Khosa presented before the court documentary evidence showing that she acquired the money from her property dealer, Mumtaz, who, according to her, materialised the deal of five files of her properties.
Customs officials requested the court for extension in Ayyan’s judicial remand, following which the court extended her remand for 14 days and ordered her appearance in the court again on April 11.
Ayyan’s lawyers also requested the court to allow her a Class-B inmate status. He argued that Class B status was Ayyan’s right because she was an educated personality and a ‘graduate’.
But, Customs officials opposed her lawyer’s request by maintaining that any inmate arrested in a case of money-laundering-cum-smuggling cannot be granted Class-B status. The court deemed correct the objection of Customs officials and rejected Ayyan’s plea.
After rejection of her appeal, Ayyan requested court that she did not want to meet any person in Adiala Jail except her real brother, Zulfiqar. The court accepted her request and directed jail authorities to act upon the wish of Ayyan. The court also directed revenue department to investigate about the property of supermodel Ayyan.