Expressing displeasure over her continued absence from the trial proceedings of a currency smuggling case, a special customs court in Rawalpindi on Wednesday directed model Ayyan Ali to show up on the next hearing at any cost.
“Upon failure to turn up, the process to declare her a proclaimed offender will be initiated,” warned the court.
The court dismissed three different applications filed by the model seeking exemption from appearing in court, cancellation of non-bailable arrest warrants issued against her and quashment of the case.
At a previous hearing, customs prosecutor Amin Feroze said that it had been two years since she last appeared in the court.
Her counsel contended that she was afraid of being arrested upon arrival in the country and requested the judge to cancel the warrants against her.
Last year in Oct, the court had issued non-bailable arrest warrants against Ali after she didn’t appear in court despite orders.
Her lawyer placed on record a medical certificate and pleaded that she be exempted from appearance owing to her ill-health.
The court, however, dismissed the plea and repeated non-bailable warrant for the model’s arrest.
Ayyan Ali has been in the media limelight since March 2015 when authorities, acting on a tip-off, arrested her at the VIP lounge of Benazir Bhutto International Airport in Islamabad on money laundering charges before she could board a flight to Dubai.
It is worth mentioning here that under Pakistani laws, a citizen is barred to carry over $10,000 on a flight.
However, the authorities had found $506,800 tucked in her luggage.
She was released on bail in July 2016 and her lawyer claimed she had no intention to take money outside Pakistan.
