Ayyan's remand extended for 14 days

RAWALPINDI: A customs court on Saturday extended for 14 days the judicial remand of supermodel Ayyan, who was arrested on March 14 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 at Adiala jail, Ayyan arrived at the hearing which was presided by Justice Mumtaz Hussain Chaudhry in a customs department vehicle. An investigation team comprising customs department personnel was also present at the hearing.

Ayyan was clad in a traditional burqa and a face veil when she arrived at the court amid tight security.

A burqa-clad Ayyan was accompanied by her lawyers and security personnel to the customs court. -

Her lawyer Khurram Latif Khosa presented before the court documentary evidence showing that she acquired the money from her property dealer Mr Mumtaz, who according to her materialised the deal of five files of her properties.

Customs officials requested the court an extension in Ayyan's judicial remand, following which the court extended her remand for 14 days and ordered her appearance in the court on April 11.

Ayyan's lawyers also requested the court to assign her a class B 'VIP' inmate status which would entitle her to several privileges unavailable to other inmates. They argued that class B status was Ayyan's right because she was an educated personality and a "graduate".

Customs officials opposed her lawyer's request by maintaining that any inmate arrested in a case of money-laundering cannot be granted class B status. The court deemed correct the objection of customs officials and rejected Ayyan's plea to be granted class B status.

Ayyan's father shot

Ayyan's father Muhammad Hafeez had earlier expressed his concern to media personnel about having personal enmities.

Meanwhile, Ayyan's father Muhammad Hafeez, who was on his way to attend the hearing of his daughter's case, was shot by unknown motorcyclists near Gujar Khan area.

Hafeez had departed from Gujar Khan on the outskirts of Rawalpindi when unknown men opened fire at him near Jinnah Hotel.

Police arrived at the scene and shifted the injured man to Rawalpindi's District Headquarters (DHQ) Hospital and later to Benazir Bhutto Hospital where he was later reported to be out of danger.

Hafeez had earlier expressed his concern to media personnel about having personal enmities.

Ayyan, a former resident of Dubai, had blamed her father for the crisis as she claimed that she was ignored by him since she passed her matriculation examination. She later joined the entertainment industry as a model and ambassador for leading fashion and commercial brands.

She had also said that she does not want to see her father while in the jail because he had been absent when she needed his support. She also claimed that "someone jealous of her success" may have orchestrated the crisis.

Ayyan's father separated from her mother 10 years ago.