KARACHI: A divisional bench of High Court of Sindh (SHC) comprising Chief Justice Sajjad Ali Shah and Justice Zulfiqar Ahmed Khan on Friday disposed of a petition seeking release of the old and used tyres destined for Multan while asking the petitioner to seek remedy before Environmental Tribunal, Multan.

Earlier Mr. Jamali advocate appearing for the petitioner prayed to the court for release of the consignment saying that custom was denying the release on ground that a No Objection Certificate (NOC) is required.

The counsel for Pakistan Customs appearing before the bench along with Deputy Collector Shahid Ali Abbasi and Principal Appraiser Asad Aleem submitted  that consignment was detained as  per policy as pollutants could not be released unless NOC is issued by the relevant authorities.

Yo a query, the counsel for petitioner said that used tyres will be taken to Multan where they will be burnt in a container in a controlled operation and there will be no emission. The oil will be obtained as result of burning and environment would not be affected in any way.

To another query, counsel for petitioner told the bench that they have applied for a NOC which was rejected against which an appeal is pending before the Environmental Tribunal, Multan. On other query bench was told that in identical matters, Lahore High Court has granted a stay.

The judiciary in Punjab is more concerned about environmental issued under present chief Justice LHC and it never will allow your plea, the bench observed.

We cannot give direction to the Punjab authorities, the bench said. The counsel for petitioner prayed for release on ground that demurrage is accumulating at which the bench said that it can dispose of the petition with direction to the customs to shift the consignment to Common Pool Fund bond so that importer/petitioner is saved on demurrage.

At the consent of the parties the bench ordered CPF bonding while directing the petitioner to seek remedy available to him before the Punjab authorities.