KARACHI: A divisional bench of High Court of Sindh (SHC) comprising Chief Justice Sajjad Ali Shah and Justice Zulfiqar Ahmed Khan Thursday disposed of a petition about an auctioned vehicle as Pakistan Custom paid rupees 1 million to the petitioner.
The bench was hearing a constitution petition filed by Syed Ibrahim Shah whose Toyota jeep was seized by the Customs Preventive for being smuggled. The petitioner opted for payment of the custom duty, taxes etc under the Amnesty Scheme which was available at relevant time and offered rupees 450,000 as Custom Duty, taxes. The request was delayed and period of the scheme ended. The petitioner approached SHC, which restrained the respondents from any action. The department however auctioned the vehicle for Rupees 550,000.
During proceedings, the bench noted that vehicle was sold at a low price (against market price of rupees 950,000 approx at relevant time). The bench also noted that despite a restraining order, the vehicle was disposed of. Since three years petitioner ran from pillar to post to get a compensation and despite orders by SHC, Custom avoided payment. The bench on Tuesday ordered Customs to pay rupee 1,000,000 to the petitioner within two days.
Today when the matter was taken up, the petitioner informed the bench that he has received rupees 1 million yesterday after which the bench disposed of the application for implementation of order in the instant petition.