No bail for Ayyan in money laundering case
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ISLAMABAD: Pakistani supermodel Ayyan, who is currently detained in a case of money laundering for attempting to fly abroad with US $500,000, divulged before a Customs Court in Rawalpindi that she acquired the sum by selling a property to former interior minister Rehman Malik’s brother, Khalid Malik.
Khalid Malik was allegedly set to travel with Ayyan on the same flight on Saturday morning when she was detained.
Judge Mumtaz Hassan Chaudhry presided over a hearing of Ayyan’s bail plea during which she submitted a written response to the court.
The supermodel's plea for bail was rejected by the court. Customs officer Inspector Saleem had appealed to the court to permit a detailed investigation into where the money came from and why it was being taken out of the country in greater detail. His plea was granted while Ayyan's was rejected.
The model apologised, and asserted that she had no knowledge of the law that bars citizens from carrying an undeclared amount exceeding $10,000 to a foreign country.
Ayyan’s father Raja Hafeez, who was present at the hearing, claimed that the allegation against his daughter was "nothing but propaganda".
He also requested the court to investigate why Ayyan chose to sell her property to Khalid Malik. Raja Hafeez is reportedly unaware of what prompted his daughter to sell the property.
Ayyan was booked to travel on a flight to Dubai from Benazir Bhutto International Airport Saturday morning when Customs officials recovered about US $500,000 from her luggage.
According to the Airport Security Force (ASF), officials spotted the currency tucked away in the pockets of a suitcase she had in her carry-on luggage.
Deputy Collector Customs Naveed Bugvi told Dawn ASF officers stopped Ayyan at the Rawal Lounge after baggage scanners detected an anomaly.
“Customs officials were called and Customs Collector Zeba Azhar found $506,800 in the suitcase,” he said. Mr Bugvi said an FIR was registered under the Customs Act 1969.
Following the registration of a case, Ayyan was sent to the District Headquarters (DHQ) Hospital for a medical checkup.
Ayyan's lawyer, Khurram Latif Khosa, son of former governor Punjab, claimed that Ayyan was not going abroad with the smuggled money, and had acted under duress.
The supermodel is currently being held in ladies barrack number six inside Adiala jail.
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On DawnNews
Comments (91) Closed
Mar 16, 2015 12:13pm
Hmmm, really. Ignorance is no excuse in law.
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Mar 16, 2015 12:14pm
I am sure Miss Ayyan must have some foreign accounts so could have made an international transfer?
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Mar 16, 2015 12:16pm
India or Pakistan it does not matter, famous people don't like to pay the tax!
Government can release her money after deducting the tax and prosecute her in the court. Should be lesson for people smuggle the wealth from countries like Pakistan. Pakistan produces so much food, and exports so much agricultural goods, but it does not help the poor to fill their stomach, because their blood have been sucked.
Poor Indians blood are deposited in Swiss banks as well, i hope they will release before we die.
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Mar 16, 2015 12:17pm
I believe her.
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Mar 16, 2015 12:19pm
why is this girl such a news??
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Mar 16, 2015 12:20pm
Story, why she travelled DXB 4 times earlier.
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Mar 16, 2015 12:20pm
Hot case!!
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Mar 16, 2015 12:24pm
No Knowledge is No excuse at all.
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Mar 16, 2015 12:25pm
@imranrahbar : because she is a supermodel
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Mar 16, 2015 12:26pm
@imranrahbar Because you are reading her story.
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Mar 16, 2015 12:33pm
i) Her father has asked the court to inquire why she sold her property to Rehman Malik's brother. Can he not ask that to her directly? It means that he wants the court to find out something that he can not say himself.
ii) If I sell a property to you, will "you and I" both board the same flight with the money? Definitely more than an ordinary co-incidence.
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Mar 16, 2015 12:35pm
"Ayyan’s father Raja Hafeez, also requested the court to investigate why Ayyan chose to sell her property to Khalid Malik." IS THERE A CATCH TO THIS ??
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Mar 16, 2015 12:38pm
Is she any popular model of industry??
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Mar 16, 2015 12:46pm
Justice should be done
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Mar 16, 2015 12:49pm
Yeah right
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Mar 16, 2015 12:54pm
Ignorance is a lame excuse as far as court is concerned!
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Mar 16, 2015 01:01pm
It is quite unlogical that a super model is unaware of common law. The matter should be properly investigated and responsible should be fixed accordingly.
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Mar 16, 2015 01:04pm
How sad - corruption is rampant in our society and how easily it is accepted and justified. What was happening is money laundering in partnership with members of ruling class. One hopes the new order will take this case head on.
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Mar 16, 2015 01:17pm
600 billion rupees have been taken out of Pakistan to Dubai in just one year and 90% of the amount has gone through illegal ways, mostly from Sindh. Ayyan Ali and many others are doing this on someone's behalf and that someone should be caught and brought to book.
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Mar 16, 2015 01:29pm
Now I'm not sure exactly how it was "tucked away in the pockets of a carryon", but if it was hidden away "smuggling style" then ofcourse she knew about the regulations otherwise why hide it that way.
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Mar 16, 2015 01:32pm
There is no excuse or ignorance in law.
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Mar 16, 2015 01:32pm
Carrying that much money is dangerous. She could of been robbed or could of lost it.
The big question is why she did not just wire transfer the money.
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Mar 16, 2015 01:32pm
If Malik paid her in cash then where did the money come from? Shouldn't Malik be prosecuted for money laundering??
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Mar 16, 2015 01:33pm
This is a case of money laundering, and should be dealt with accordingly.
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Mar 16, 2015 01:35pm
She should also be punished for lying before the court.
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Mar 16, 2015 01:37pm
Rehman Malik 's brother should be investigated for sources of his income and taxes.
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Mar 16, 2015 01:38pm
Unfortunately for Ayyan, this is a strict liability offence and neither ignorance or any other excuse is permissible as a defense. She may get a lighter sentence, but if anything, the money should be forfeit.
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Mar 16, 2015 01:42pm
Is it just me who sense Rehman Malik's involvement in this case. Points:
1. Politicians often do 'business' through their relatives
2. The buyer and seller were both travelling through the same plane to same destination, too much coincidence?
3. She has been frequent traveller to outside and not knowing the law is beyond comprehension.
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Mar 16, 2015 01:43pm
Let her go please !! :-P
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Mar 16, 2015 01:57pm
It means , for Black money transfers models are hired, how intelligent are our politicians, I wish they use thier smartness for the betterment Of Pakistan
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Mar 16, 2015 02:05pm
Now that she knows it is a crime, she will transfer it via bank . She is not carrying any narcotics or fleeing the country by murdering someone. Geo or jeenay do And let the law enforcing agencies focus their energy on more important issues facing our country.
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Mar 16, 2015 02:08pm
In which brand she appeared as a model ? first time I heard this name.
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Mar 16, 2015 02:09pm
I think its not as simple as its portrayed.
She fly to Dubai 15 time in 12 month period...why ?
She sell property to a person whose brother is ex interior minister and an ex FIA director.
Mr Malik may have tipped to ASF about money.
This case must be investigated thoroughly.
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Mar 16, 2015 02:14pm
Lol Rehman Malik has popped in the picture as gossip goes io heard she was laundering money for PPP and this is not her first such trip and every tme a phone call came to let her through,only this time the LEAs put their foot in between and told customs to stop her.Seems like PPP is on the run after 90 their turn will come soon
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Mar 16, 2015 02:14pm
Public would like to know the truth. Not a simple case . Please expose people behind all this drama . She is just a front runner.
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Mar 16, 2015 02:23pm
Poor girl....I feel sad for her....
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Mar 16, 2015 02:31pm
To be honest , I never knew who she was until this
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Mar 16, 2015 02:33pm
Which property?
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Mar 16, 2015 02:38pm
court should investigate khalid malik???
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Mar 16, 2015 02:41pm
Good decision, she is a flight risk. Her name should be on ECL and arrest that other accomplice.
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Mar 16, 2015 02:52pm
@imranrahbar these kind of questions our people would never understand.
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Mar 16, 2015 02:56pm
No Way, She must know the law because she travels alot. Law said any foreign travelers carry maximum $5,000.
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Mar 16, 2015 03:12pm
I wonder how some one can carry a huge money in hand carry? and also she did not know the law, that's a white lye in front of court. There should not be any relaxation for the Super Model and dealt according to law, no mercy for anyone. either it be Khalid Malik or Ayan. Poor employees are paying taxes and these muggers think they are above the law. Should be made an exemplary judgement.
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Mar 16, 2015 03:13pm
When Rahat was arrested by Indian customs carrying lacs of dollars , Pakistan's foreign office intervened to release him. Why? Here is the result. People take lessons from application of laws. Here in India , we do not spare, whether its Sanjay Duty or Salman Khan a close friends of big politicians. Law should take its own course.
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Mar 16, 2015 03:15pm
The case connects to Rehman Malik, as the her lawyer said she acted under duress.
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Mar 16, 2015 03:18pm
6 Trillion rupees from Sindh and 25 Trillions from all over Pakistan has been smuggled out to Dubai within last year. This is a staggering amount of money. The elite of this country used moles like Ayaan for this purpose and its only tip of the iceberg. This is economic terrorism citizen of Pakistan have been facing all along not by Taliban but the elite of this country.
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Mar 16, 2015 03:22pm
Ayyan's ' get out of jail ' card........ Rehman Malik.
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Mar 16, 2015 03:23pm
@Blunt This is a very serious question having various meanings.
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Mar 16, 2015 03:41pm
This is just a misunderstanding by the media. They have twisted the story and the statements of the customs officials. The only discovered “monopoly” bank notes from her which she wanted to gift as a birthday present to the brother of a former minister.
Further, she is said to have declared that the source of the money is the sale of her property to Mr. Malik’s brother. Interestingly, Mr. Malik’s brother was supposed to travel with her.
What an interesting arrangement, you sell me property and then we both travel to Dubai with the payment amount.
Earlier, she had stated that the money was for making a music video – hmmm, interesting, selling property to make a video? really not sound financial sense to me.
Further, her father has been reported to have stated in the court that the court should also investigate why she sold the money to Mr. Malik’s brother. Definitely something more to it than meets the eye.
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Mar 16, 2015 03:43pm
It's not against the law to sell property or board a plane. There is no need to investigate those angles. This is a red herring argument meant to distract the people from the real issue.
Exiting the country with more than $10,000 is against the law. That is all she needs to answer for. If she took the money out to "clean" it then it money laundering.
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Mar 16, 2015 03:46pm
@Don why do we care if she is a front runner. Does that make her innocent? Maybe we should let her go because we cannot find the people behind her.
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Mar 16, 2015 03:49pm
In addition to investigating Ayyan, the court should also investigate why Rehman Malik's brother paid her in cash, for selling the property. What is the source of the money which Khalid Malik paid her - was it earned through legal means? If yes, then why did he chose not to pay via pay order / bank draft, etc. as is the case in such transactions. Why the need to pay in cash?
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Mar 16, 2015 03:49pm
@HRK what duress? Then why is she apologizing? An apology means you are guilty. No one held a gun to her head. And a super model at that? She told the police she wanted the money to launch her nest song. I think her whole personal is linked to money laundering. She got caught.
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Mar 16, 2015 03:54pm
@Merchant no Malik is not the one taking the money out. He may have to answer on any unpaid taxes. But if the property was sold recently then he has a year to pay the taxes. Secondly, who converted the money to dollars? If Malik gave her rupees and she converted them then she is a big time fish. Lock her up and throw the keys away. End of story.
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Mar 16, 2015 03:54pm
Ayyan, a carrier, perhaps! Find the source. She might just be a scapegoat. Grab the string-puller.
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Mar 16, 2015 03:56pm
Lesson to be learned for everyone. Feel sorry for her, i think she was over confident and must be assured that nothing will happen. Girls are careless sometimes.
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Mar 16, 2015 04:18pm
no matter what she did just give her bail and should not be allowed to left pakistan. by jailing her nothing can be achieved except making dubious breaking news.
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Mar 16, 2015 04:44pm
Aweee
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Mar 16, 2015 04:45pm
@Shahid No way, this some one will never be caught. This story too will get buried soon....like scores of others in the past.
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Mar 16, 2015 04:51pm
In the meanwhile it is also important to save her from jail employees and other jail mates, being a soft target.
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Mar 16, 2015 05:30pm
I feel sorry for her. I just hope she remains safe in jail. She is young, beautiful and famous. She is vulnerable :(
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Mar 16, 2015 05:37pm
@Aaqil I fully agree with you. I have learnt one thing from my experience that there is neither a punishment for criminals nor a reward for good people in Pakistan. I gave up hopes long time back.
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Mar 16, 2015 05:57pm
@Razi I was just thinking that. I think Malik's brother was getting his money out ( money with probably no legal source and also without paying taxes )
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Mar 16, 2015 06:17pm
Please bring here to the court of law and not let her to go without punishment.
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Mar 16, 2015 06:19pm
@imranrahbar for GOD sake she is not a girl she is woman.
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Mar 16, 2015 06:43pm
1) Hire a good accountancy firm for forensic work. Define scope properly.
2) Pay them a million (rupees). Get results.
3) Financial Investigation Unit of the SBP is a specialist in such investigations.
4) Trace money to property deal. Trace transfer deed papers - date.
5) Carry out an actual valuation of the property to see if the deal was carried out fairly.
6) Check Ms. Ayyan's bank accounts and foreign travel history. Is there any sync between the two? or with Mr. Malik's?
7) Check Mr. Malik's bank accounts and travel history too. Is there any sync between them? or with Ms. Ayyan's?
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Mar 16, 2015 06:57pm
lol, who carries $500,000 just like that? Even real criminals aren't that dumb. Also why is Rehman always associated with drama on planes?
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Mar 16, 2015 07:10pm
Get PTA involved. Through FIA, they can access mobile phone data to establish the nature of arrangement between the two accused parties.
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Mar 16, 2015 07:21pm
To whom this money belong he should detained.
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Mar 16, 2015 07:31pm
Brothers! Nothing would happen to her as she was unaware of the law prohibits to carry more than $9,999 and her father Mr. Hafeez was unaware of the property she claims sold!
The honorable judge would be unaware if there is a law to prosecute and punish someone with high 'INFLUENCE'
welcome to PAKISTAN!!!
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Mar 16, 2015 07:41pm
I don't believe this money is her's. She is just a carrier for fee. She has to tell who's money it is.
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Mar 16, 2015 07:59pm
No wonder terrorism is rampant in this country when people like former interior monitor seems to be involved in illegal maneuver of large sums of monies.
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Mar 16, 2015 08:07pm
she should get an exemplary punishment.
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Mar 16, 2015 08:32pm
really...she is so gullible, she didnt even know the 10000 limit , while trynna act all western/"modern"...this is believable.
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Mar 16, 2015 08:44pm
This is no justice, model Ayyan is in jail for money laundering while our present prime Minister and Finance minister who were also involved in money laundering. These two have the most trusted position in the country while Ayyan is rotting in jail..
JUSTICE, JUSTICE and JUSTICE.
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Mar 16, 2015 08:45pm
Poor soul.
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Mar 16, 2015 09:16pm
It seems Ayyan was a courier for someone. It is funny that the buyer Khalid Malik the so called buyer of Ayyan's property was accompanying her to UAE. This story has lot more than what the public is being told.
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Mar 16, 2015 09:28pm
She can't be that dumb as she is playing it. Court has to expose the other criminal behind this whether they are Malik brothers or any other politicians.
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Mar 16, 2015 09:36pm
Let her go! Silly to not give her bail.
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Mar 16, 2015 09:51pm
@Swaran singh I agree with your comment 100%
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Mar 16, 2015 10:00pm
This seems like a publicity stunt as she can not be so stupid to be carrying half a million dollars in a bag. See I did not even know her till this news but now everyone does. Even if she does not get her money back this is still a cheaper publicity than you think.
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Mar 16, 2015 10:02pm
Who is she after all..?
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Mar 16, 2015 10:16pm
So much hue and cry is being raised by the media and the law has come into action when an individual like Ms. Ayan was carrying her personal money abroad, not knowing that she was not allowed to take abroad the large amount (said to be $500,000) of money. Why there is a hush hush when the politicians, bureaucrats, and other big wigs take away far much larger amounts of embezzled or ill gotten money? By the way, is it a crime for an individual to sell his, her property to a minister's relative? Is her attempt to take her own money abroad such a serious crime so as to warrant her being sent to a place like Adiala Jail?
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Mar 16, 2015 11:05pm
if she can sell a property worth 5 lac $ she must surely be aware of rules pertaining to transactions and foreign currency. something is definitely fishy..
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Mar 17, 2015 02:32am
Ayyan allegedly sold someproperty to Senator Rehman Malik's brother who "paid her in dollars" for it and she was so inncoent that she took those dollars into her bag and drove away towards the airport. Where is that property situated? If it is in Pakistan then why she was paid in dollars? Even if the property is situated outside Pakistan then why not the banking channel was utilized.
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Mar 17, 2015 04:13am
I suggest punishment for her is to do some community service such as teach kids in public primary schools for few weeks may be etc
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Mar 17, 2015 04:22am
With Khosa around they will let her go and the case will die its own death and besides she has other connections and so has Khalid Malik, no problems for any of the people involved.
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Mar 17, 2015 11:05am
so her house costs 5 lac dollars ? is this joke or something
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Mar 17, 2015 12:32pm
Denying bail to a woman in money launder case is too harsh on part of the judge. Even after bail the accused could be investigated to ascertain the source of those dollars what was the fun in keeping a woman in jail should be explained by the judge.
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Mar 18, 2015 02:36am
a thousand kinds of fool!
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Mar 18, 2015 02:52am
@Nk she was foolish to "tuck it away" in the pockets of her carry on. even if she was well aware of the laws, clearly, she thought she wouldn't get caught! she thought no one would bother to check her. let's say, if she had 500 bills of $100, all she had to do was stack them neatly on her clothes and made layers of clothes and bills consecutively, instead of "tucking" them away in her carry on. lol yes i've thought this through!
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