KARACHI: The release of a passenger bus detained since May 2018 on charge of being used in smuggling of miscellaneous foreign goods, was ordered by a Custom Appellate bench of High Court of Sindh.
Fazal Mehmood owner of the bus bearing Registration Number BSA 656 moved the court through Ms Dil Khurram Shaheen Advocate. The counsel stated that the bus was stopped on RCD Highway and was confiscated for use in smuggling of non-custom paid foreign items, miscellaneous in nature.
An Additional Collector Customs ordered release of vehicle against bank guarantee {Section 156 (2) of the Customs Act 1969}. Later on an appeal, an Order in Original was also passed wherein the bus was allowed to be released on payment of 20 per cent redumption fine. This order was also challenged by the Pakistan Customs before the Special Customs Appellate Tribunal. The tribunal while dismissing appeal No K807 of 2018 filed by the department ordered release of the vehicle.
As the vehicle was still in possession of the Customs, the owner filed the instant petition. The bench after perusing the record and orders in favor of the petitioner ordered release of the vehicle. The bench fixed Jan 20 to be the next date of hearing seeking compliance report by that date. The bench in its order said that if order was not complied by then, the Chief Collector Karachi and Collector concerned shall be in attendance.