Today, after a detailed hearing of around three hours, the Customs Court acquitted the five-member South African family that was arrested earlier this month for allegedly attempting to smuggle 9.6 kgs of gold from Pakistan. The acquittal applications for all accused were argued by Saim Hashmi (Advocate Supreme Court) with assistance from Adv Mahmood Ali Arain and Arbaz Khan. Earlier this month, Pakistan Customs booked five South African nationals, including four women in a case alleging smuggling of 9.6 kgs of gold from Jinnah International Airport, Karachi. After hearing the arguments on acquittal applications, in which Mr Hashmi pointed out a number of illegalities that had been committed by Customs officials while lodging FIR etc., particularly that the accused had not been provided an opportunity to declare the gold ornaments that was mandatory under Section 139 of Customs Act 1969, the learned Court proceeded to acquit all the accused.
