KARACHI: The judgment passed by Custom Appellate Tribunal in favor of a claimant of smuggled goods dated 08.05.2024 in custom appeal no K-314 of 2024 was suspended by a custom appellate bench of High Court of Sindh (SHC) while issuing notices to the respondent for a date to be fixed by the office of the court.
The court earlier heard Khalid Mehmood Rajpar Advocate, counsel for the applicant department Directorate of Intelligence & Investigations (Customs) against Syed Mattiullah and Member Judicial–I of Customs Appellate Tribunal, Karachi.
As per details, DIT received a credible information that smuggled goods of foreign origin are being un-loaded from container no GRTU-4504169 and is lying in front of Plot No S-31, Site Area Gulbai Karachi and ASO seized the goods. During initial probe Mattiullah claimed the ownership of alleged smuggled goods including lap tops, Home Security Cameras, Ball Bearings, Foot Massager and other miscellaneous goods but he failed to produced lawful import documents in respect of recovered goods. The duty and taxes involved were calculated to be Rupees 3597147.
The custom appellate tribunal passed order in favor of the claimant/importer and ordered release of confiscated goods which were challenged in the SCRA on ground that claimant has failed in discharging burden of proof that goods were brought into Pakistan lawfully.