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Aero Asia clarifies news item

KARACHI: Aero Asia on Wednesday clarified a news item. Following is the text of the clarification:

This is in reference to the alleged contravention report prepared by Intelligence Officer belongs to Directorate General of Intelligence & Investigation (Customs & Excise).

It is significant here that at the concluding para in last line, the so-called concocted and fabricated report is submitted for adjudication. Therefore, it would be premature on the part of any newspaper/magazine to publish anything unless the matter is adjudicated. Any attempt to get published the contravention report will seriously cause irreparable loss to us.

Further, we had a meeting with the Collector at Director General of Intelligence & Investigation (Customs & Excise), Pervez Iqbal Kansi, who also showed his inability in this regard as according to him it is just a preliminary report which shall be subject to the final outcome of the adjudication or proceedings, if any.

Without commenting on the merits of the report, it is to clarify here that same matter has already subjudiced before the quasi judicial authority Collector Customs, Karachi. Therefore, for the same cause, 2nd report cannot be prepared in view of Article 13 of the Constitution as admittedly it is the case of double jeopardy.

Regarding Boeing 737 200, this is to inform that all the international operation all over the world, the planes are in transit for few hours and there is no duty for it. These are international rules and regulations which are implemented and accepted all over the world and in the same line our national carrier also having their Haj operations for the past few years where they are using the plane only for the international operation and they do not pay any taxes on the lease charges and same way a private airline was flying international operation for few years for their flight from Peshawar-Dubai-Peshawar based at Dubai which was on lease and there was no taxes on such operation. Aero Asia has also based aircraft in Dubai and during operation Dubai-Pakistan-Dubai with one Aircraft Boeing 737 which comes to Pakistan as transit for couple of hours which is already in the knowledge of Custom Collector since the operation started and the proper exercise and working is still under adjudication. Meantime, Custom Intelligence has made parallel report which is their internal correspondence which is neither claim to us nor we have any official information from Custom authorities.

We have already made our legal submissions before relevant Customs authorities where the matter is still pending and no order has so far been passed. Consequently, no custom dues or demand whatsoever, is outstanding against us till to-date in this matter.