KARACHI: Collector MCC Port Qasim Mukarram Jah has expedited the recovery campaign against several fabric importers who disappeared after their consignments were cleared on submission of post dated cheques, and these cheques got dishonored.
On the directives of Collector Mukarram Jah, Additional Collector Mohammad Tahir has formed a squad led by a deputy collector to physically visit the addresses of the importers/companies who committed the fraud to approach the defaulters.
Another committee has also been form that would scrutinize the data and would find the persons/clearing agents who paid the duty and taxes on these consignments through their bank accounts.
According to the details of case, several fabric importers had a valuation dispute and they approached Islamabad High Court seeking release of their consignments against deposit of post-dated cheques of the differential amount.
Islamabad High Court contrary to the Customs Act, 1969 granted the appeal and advised the Customs to release the consignments against deposit of post-dated instruments. MCC Appraisement West considered this order inappropriate as Customs Act does not allow release of consignments against post-dated instruments.
MCC Port Qasim however honored the ruling of Islamabad High Court and released several consignments till the dispute was settled at IHC. But, interestingly all the importers/petitioners who had moved the court never appeared the hearings and therefore the Court dismissed the petition.
As the petition was dismissed, MCC Port Qasim opted for encashment of post-dated cheques to secure legitimate revenue worth hundreds of millions of rupees. The instruments deposited were dishonored. The bank accounts were found empty and there is no trace of the said importers.
Sources said a particular group of fabric clearing agents was involved in this game and registered companies are purchased to defraud the exchequer. These companies are registered on bogus addresses.