KARACHI: A division bench of High Court of Sindh (SHC) sought comments from Directorate General of Intelligence and Investigations by Thursday adjourning hearing of a petition challenging alleged illegal seizure of Light Speed Diesel allegedly on the orders of Director Anti Smuggling Organization ASO
) of Pakistan Custom, Asif Marghoob Siddiqui.
The bench earlier heard Ismat Mehdi advocate, counsel for Pearl Enterprises Multan challenging the alleged illegal raid at a Godown of the company located in Korangi Karachi and confiscation of 25,000 liters of local Light Speed Diesel.
The petitioner maintains that they are purchaser of Diesel from Pak Arab Refinery, Mehmood Kot, and Muzaffarabad for onward sale and supply to Sindh and Punjab. They have a registered and known storage facility at Korangi and on 23-9-2015, 20 persons identifying themselves as officers and officials of Directorate of I&I raided the godown and despite the fact that documents pertaining to purchase of diesel oil from local companies forcibly removed the same.
Today when the petition came up for hearing, no one from the respondent Directorate of I&I was present at which the counsel for Pakistan Customs, Kashif Nazeer was asked by the bench to assist in the matter. The counsel for customs sought time at which the bench allowing the request put of hearing until Thursday.
The petitioner prayed to the court to declare that respondent Director I&I who authorized the raid acted in excess of powers, direct the Secretary Revenue Board to conduct an inquiry and punish officials involved in unlawful and deplorable abuse of power. The court was also prayed to direct the respondents to take sample for test and report by Hydrocarbon Development Institute of Pakistan (HDIP) and to order forthwith release of confiscated consignment.