KARACHI: A divisional bench of High Court of Sindh (SHC) comprising Chief Justice Sajjad Ali Shah and Justice Zulfiqar Ahmed Khan on Tuesday asked the Customs Preventive to settle the issue with the petitioner out of the court within 2 days or it will pass the orders appropriate orders.
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 further action. The department however auctioned the vehicle for Rupees 550,000.
Today when the petition came up for hearing, the bench noted that vehicle was sold at such 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. The counsel for petitioner said that custom officers are avoiding the implementation of the order. The bench asked the custom officials to pay a sum of rupees 1 million. besides the petitioner was asked to en-cash the pay order with him in respect of duty and taxes towards vehicle.
Settle it within next two days or we will be forced to impose a cost of 2,500,000 as cost in compensation to the petitioner hardship, the bench noted adjourning further proceedings till June 02.