Islamabad: Unidentified gunmen on Saturday shot and injured the father of famous Pakistani model Ayyan Ali, currently under arrest on money laundering charges, according to local media reports.
Mohammad Hafeez alleged people involved in the money-laundering case against his daughter were behind the attack that took place near Gujra Khan town near Rawalpindi, where Ayyan is lodged in Adiala Jail.
A customs court extended for 14 days the judicial remand of the model, who was arrested on March 14 from Benazir Bhutto International Airport.
Customs authorities alleged they had recovered more than half million US dollars from the model’s luggage as she prepared to board a flight to Dubai.
After the termination of her earlier 14-day judicial remand at Adiala jail, Ayyan was brought to the court on Saturday in a customs department vehicle. She wore a traditional head-to-feet black ‘burka’ veil.
Her lawyer Khurram Latif Khosa presented documentary evidence before the court showing she acquired the money from sale of her property.
Accepting the request of customs officials, the court extended her remand by 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.
They argued that class B status was Ayyan’s right because she was an educated personality and a “graduate”.
Customs officials opposed the same, contending that any inmate arrested in a case of money-laundering cannot be granted class B status.
The court rejected Ayyan’s plea.
Reports said Ayyan’s father came under attack en route to Rawalpindi to attending the hearing. Police shifted him to Rawalpindi’s Benazir Bhutto Hospital where he was said to be out of danger.
Hafeez had earlier expressed his concern to media personnel about having personal enmities. He claimed that money recovered from Ayyan does not belong to her and “she is being pressurised by certain people”.
“The entire media knows who the money belongs to,” he said, without disclosing details.
Ayyan had blamed her father for the crisis as she claimed 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 also said she does not want to see her father while in the jail because he had been absent when she needed his support.
Ayyan’s parents split 10 years ago. According to media reports, Ayyan has remained out of touch with her father for the past 10 years.
Under local anti-money laundering laws the offence is punishable with imprisonment which may extend to 10 years and a fine.
