KARACHI: The ASO Preventive, Karachi was restrained from arresting or harassing officials of Byco Pak Petroleum Limited. The order was passed by a customs appellate bench of High Court of Sindh (SHC) comprising Justice Aqeel Ahmed Abbasi and Justice Mahmood A Khan here on Monday.
Franklin Law Associates represented the petitioner company and a counsel from law firm submitted that petitioner company imports crude oil and when a vessel approaches port two tug boat held it. These tug boats were provided with diesel by a third party namely Khurram Oil Traders. The diesel carrier of the Khurram Oil was intercepted by the ADO Preventive which alleged that as per documents it was loaded with 280,000 liters of diesel but 50000 litre were found short. ASO lodged an FIR in this connection booking the third party supplier, clearing agents and now were harassing the officials of BYCO. The charge of smuggling is not attracted, the counsel for petitioner submitted on ground that diesel was supplied the case, the counsel submitted seeking proceedings as per law.
The bench after a detailed hearing restrained customs from any harassment or arresting officials of Byco while petitioner was directed to cooperate with the customs and to produce all documents as required.