KARACHI: An appellate bench of High Court of Sindh (SHC) comprising Justice Munib Akhtar and Justice Muhammad Humayun Khan on Monday asked a petitioner to explain the delay in approaching the court against suspension of his license.

The bench was hearing a constitution petition filed by Tariq Sultan, CEO of  ‘A One Clear Forwarder Agencies (Pvt) Limited against suspension of his license in year 2011. At the commencement of hearing, the bench asked the petitioner’s counsel that what is his status right now, has he been let of by the FIA. The counsel for petitioner submitted that FIA has absolved him of the allegation but yet he is being summoned of and on by FIA in these cases just to harass him.

What were you doing for these long years (2012-2016), the bench said observing that the immediate issue before the court is the issuance or other wise of an interim order.

I was released in 2012 and since then in litigation, approaching the concerned authorities to renweb my license revoking its suspension.

Earlier, masooda Siraj advocate, counsel for Pakistan Customs submitted para wise comments in the petitioner maintaining that the petitioner came to the court with un-clean hands, he was involved in an attempt to get the smuggled vehicles (Suzuki make) released on the basis of fake passport. He was also involved in releasing goods under the garb of Afghan Transit Trade and hence faces action by the competent authorities.

The bench again asked the petitioner to show applications/representations or any other proof to establish that he made efforts to approach the authorities for revision of order suspending his license.

The bench later put off hearing to an unspecified date directing the counsel for petitioner to satisfy the court over delay of four years in challenging the suspension of the license.