Islamabad  - The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has approached Islamabad High Court against model girl Ayyan Ali and sought court’s permission to investigate her financial sources as an amount of US $506800 had been recovered from her at Benazir Bhutto International Airport Islamabad. 

The FBR’s directorate of intelligence and investigation (DII) moved the court through its superintendent Zahoor Ahmad Mughal. 

The petitioner has challenged a verdict of Special Judge (Custom, Taxation and Anti Smuggling) dated March 30, 2016 by saying whether law provides blanket immunity as to source of financing and whether an inquiry could be done to understand the real matter of fact. It further raised a question whether the onus of proof to establish source of finance lies on Ayyan. 

The FBR official said that the proceeds of money recovered from Ayyan were tainted unless proven otherwise. In the challan submitted to the court of special judge, it was submitted with documentary evidence that the accused sold properties to an unknown buyer through fake Bahria Town representative Najeeb Haroon on March 13, 2015.  

Bahria Town Deputy Chief Executive ARK Nasir through a letter dated May 13, 2015 told the investigation that no record of the property was found and Najeeb Haroon is also not their representative. 

He stated that Ayyan’s source of US $506800 is still unknown and it requires a probe into the matter, especially when the accused also does not file income tax. 

The petitioner in it petition argued that in 1998 restrictions were imposed on foreign exchange while there was no legislative enactment ever issued/ passed by the parliament which repeals Foreign Exchange Temporary Restriction Act 1998, therefore ensuring that the said enactment was still in force and in field. 

Therefore, he prayed to the court to set aside special court’s order dated March 30, 2016 and petitioner may be granted permission to investigate the offences committed under money laundering act-2010.