TV actress booked for carrying liquor | Pakistan Press Foundation (PPF)

Pakistan Press Foundation

TV actress booked for carrying liquor

RAWALPINDI: On the intervention of the Supreme Court, the Airport police on Tuesday booked the vice president of All Pakistan Muslim League (APML) Attiqa Odho, on the charges of possessing two bottles of liquor.

Attiqa Odho, a film actress and television host, who joined the APML of former President Gen Pervez Musharraf on its constitution, came to Benazir Bhutto International Airport on Saturday to catch flight for Karachi. The Airport Security Force (ASF) spotted two bottles of liquor in her baggage during security check.

Instead of handing over the case to the local police, the ASF staff referred the case to the Customs who confiscated the liquor bottles under customs act, though she was allowed to travel.

After the Supreme Court took notice of the case involving Ms Attiqa Odho, the Assistant Collector Customs at Benazir Bhutto International Airport Ms Sehr Yasir lodged a complaint with the Airport police on Tuesday saying that the ASF staff on June 4th had handed them over two bottles of liquor recovered from the baggage of Ms Attiqa Odho to Customs staff after seizure made under the customs act.

The two bottles of liquor were spotted by the ASF staff when the security check-in of passengers of Karachi flight PK-301 for Karachi was underway at Benazir Bhutto International Airport last Saturday.

Though she was allowed to continue her journey, the two bottles were seized by the customs staff.

The AC customs official in her police complaint said show-cause notice will be issued to the offender under the customs act as the investigation is launched.

The AC said since the seizure`s value was less then the prescribed amount under the customs act, and cognizable by the police the matter is being refereed to the police for initiating further legal action. Police said though the case against Ms Attiqa Odho has been registered, she is yet to be investigated by the police.

Police said the accused identified in the FIR is likely to seek bail from the court of law on Thursday.

APML Spokesman Fawad Chaudhary when contacted said it was no less then a surprise for him that the Supreme Court of Pakistan had taken notice of such a small issue, instead of taking notices on other national issues of vital importance.

He said a three-member committee comprising Chaudhary Shahbaz, Ahmed Raza Kasuri and vice president Naeem Tahir had been formed by the APML to look into the issue of Attiqa Odho and it would hold its first meeting next Friday. Mr Fawad said: “Though Attiqa has tendered her resignation; her fate would be decided after the committee`s findings.”
Source: Dawn
Date:6/9/2011