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| Arabia |
| Curly-toed heroin slippers, don't fail me now |
| 2009-08-19 |
| Five Pakistani Umrah pilgrims, who have been detained in Jeddah prison following recovery of heroin from their slippers by Saudi Arabian authorities, might have to undergo at least seven years imprisonment even if the Pakistan government files a petition to prove their innocence. In case of inaction on the part of Pakistani government, they would have to face the death penalty under Saudi law. Javed Ahmed Chhatari advocate, who just recently returned from Jeddah where he met the investigation officer (IO) handling the case, told The News that the people who were arrested by the Jeddah customs, even if proved innocent, could not be released as they were caught red-handed by the customs officials with heroin-filled slippers. Arif Chowhan, his wife Shumaila Arif; Anees Ahmed, his wife Rabia Anees and their mother Zohra Moosan have been detained in Jeddah jail since June 1 after they were arrested by the Shurta (Saudi police). The Saudi IO, who wanted not to be named, told Chhatari that the eight pilgrims who reached Jeddah via PIA flight PK-731 on June 1 were arrested after the recovery of four kilogrammes of heroin - 250 grams of heroin per slipper - from their possession. After recovery of heroin from their slippers, the airport staff stopped all the passengers aboard the Pakistani flight for four hours and only let them go after thorough checking. During investigation, three other detainees - Shamim Bano, mother of Shafia, and Zubair, her brother – confessed before the police that they had come to Jeddah six times in the past and successfully smuggled the drugs in the same manner. Another detainee Pervez – their cousin – also pleaded guilty. The IO said that under the Saudi legal system, which runs under Islamic law, there are three types of drug-related charges: smuggling, dealing and usage. The most serious of the three charges is smuggling - and anybody who pleads guilty would have to face the death penalty. The pilgrims caught at the Jeddah airport, the IO said, had been charged with heroin smuggling. The three detainees had indeed told the Saudi investigators that the two couples and their mother were unaware of wearing the heroin-filled slippers. However, under the Saudi law, those found carrying drugs would have to face trial and a minimum of seven years’ imprisonment even if they prove their innocence with documentary evidence. The decision in the case will only be announced by the Qazi (judge) and even the King could not interfere with the Qazi’s verdict. Under Islamic Tazeer (penal punishment), the Qazi would conclude the case in three hearings; the proceedings of the case of these Pakistanis are yet to begin. The Qazi will enforce the “Laiha Itteham” (framing charge) and the accused would prove their innocence through “Dalil” (arguments) in three months’ time. They had to file a “Salisatan” (in person) and a “Wakalatin” (through lawyer) in writing to satisfy the three-member Qazi court. The court proceedings in Saudi Arabia are conducted under five edifices - Tazeer (penal), Quran, Sunnah, Ijtehad (edict), Ijma (consensus of the Ulema) and Qayas (presumption). The Pakistan government has not hired any counsel; however, Chhatari will file power of attorney duly attested by the Foreign Office of Pakistan in the court of Jeddah to plead their case. To prove their innocence, Chhatari said, he would submit four FIRs registered in Pakistan, reports of the CPLC standing committee and Senate as well as the statements of the group members who traveled with them. Their statements were recorded under Section 164 before the judicial magistrate with their translation in Arabic. The Saudi government will only allow him to plead the case after hiring a Mutarajim (translator). The detained intending pilgrims allege that they were given the heroin-filled slippers prior to boarding the flight as a gift by a so-called sub-travel agent of M/s Al-Huda Travels & Tours namely Syed Sarwat Hussain and his wife Mst. Shafia Khanam, telling them that the same would serve as their identity when they would proceed ahead from the Jeddah Airport. |
| Posted by:john frum |
| #2 8.8 OUNCES per shoe, perhaps? 8.8 pounds would be just shy of 4 Kilos, the total 'recovered' between the eight folks. Still, half a pound per shoe is quite a bit when you're talking 'horse'. Might make the feet a tad 'numb' (of course there's a bit of hiking |
| Posted by: Mullah Richard 2009-08-19 16:30 |
| #1 My, what big shoes you have! 8.8 pounds of heroin per shoe and they weren't aware that they were carying a litle something extra. |
| Posted by: Richard of Oregon 2009-08-19 15:30 |