KARACHI: A two member bench of Customs Appellate Tribunal Quetta comprising Chairman Hafiz Ansar-ul-Haq and Ihsan Ali Shah (Member Technical) dismissed 35 identical appeals filed by different importers. No one represented the Appellants while Khalid Mehmood Rajper represented respondent MCC Enforcement, Quetta.
As per details 28 appellants were claimants of goods (fabric shirting, cushion etc) and seven claimant of conveyances seized in a single case. A single Show Cause was issued by the Adjudicating Authority. As per case making collectorate authentic information was received that attempt will be made to transport foreign origin smuggled goods from border areas through un-authorized routes down to cities via Dera Murad Jamali (Nauttal) Seven vehicles were intercepted on 11.11.2023 at about 17:55 hours by Field Enforcement Staff assisted by Frontier Corps and Police. The carriers failed to produce proof of lawful import/payment of leviable duty and taxes as required under section 156(2) of Customs Act 1969. Subsequently a F.I.R was registered. The goods seized were estimated to be Rupees 765,905,595.
Despite affording ample opportunity no one appeared to claim the ownership of goods before the adjudicating authority which passed an order maintaining the seizure against which the instant appeals were filed. The appellants contended that they have procured the goods locally and to support their contention, they produced invoices issued between 16.10.2023 to 25.10.2023 while all the suppliers were found to be invalid being issued by Non–filers or suspended/black listed suppliers.
The two member appellate bench after hearing counsel for MCC Quetta Enforcement dismissed the appeals.
Text of order is available in PDF file from for over readers:
Customs Appellate Tribunal Quetta 35 dismisses appeals