News Desk
KARACHI: The Sindh High Court has directed a trial court to decide, within one month, an acquittal application filed by a customs officer accused in a corruption and smuggling facilitation case, while emphasising the constitutional right to a fair trial.
The order came during the hearing of a petition filed by customs officer Hafiz Muhammad Younis, who approached the high court after his acquittal application was allegedly not being heard by the trial court.
The high court instructed the trial court to decide the acquittal plea within one month after providing all relevant parties with an opportunity to present their arguments.
The court observed that every accused person is entitled to a fair trial under the Constitution and said the Federal Anti-Corruption Court must decide the application only after hearing all concerned parties.
The high court did not express any opinion on the merits of the allegations and limited its order to ensuring that the acquittal application is decided in accordance with due process and within the specified timeframe.
The case relates to allegations of corruption and facilitating smuggling against customs officials, which remain pending before the trial court.
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