KARACHI: Deciding at least 10 identical petitions filed by importer who allegedly misdeclared goods as old clothes but found to be auto parts, complete engines and perfumes, a custom appellate bench of High Court of Sindh (SHC) comprising Justice Aqeel Ahmed Abbasi and Justice Mahmood A Khan om Tuesday ordered them to surrender before the trial court and seek bail within a week time.
The bench was hearing petitions filed by Muhammad Aslam, United Marine, Qaiser Abbas, Hayatullah and others. The bench also ordered the petitioners to seek remedy including adjudication before the custom authorities in cases of loss of revenue to the state coffers. The respondent custom officials were directed to give the petitioners fair opportunity of hearing while petitioners will be at liberty to raise factual controversies before the competent departmental forums.
The scam pertaining to old clothes is stated to be one of the biggest scams. The Chief Collector, Collector Customs were issued notices of show cause in contempt application but later all such applications were dismissed after the same were contested by Khalid Mahmood Rajpar advocate, counsel for custom officers. The petitioner are represented by Aqeel Ahmed Khan, Zain Jatoi, Zia-ul-Hasan, Ghulam Hyder Shaikh, Fahim Shah and others.