KARACHI: The sale of a confiscated vehicle despite restraining order of Sindh High Court (SHC) landed Pakistan Customs (Preventive) into trouble as a divisional bench expressing annoyance over disrespect to order of the Court asked the department to settle the issue with the petitioner.
The bench was hearing a constitution petition filed by Syed Ibrahim Shah whose Toyota jeep was seized by the Customs Preventive for being smuggled. The petitioner opted for payment of the custom duty, taxes etc under the Amnesty Scheme which was available at relevant time and offered rupees 450,000 as Custom Duty, taxes. The request was delayed and period of the scheme ended. The petitioner approached SHC, which restrained the respondents from any further action. The department however auctioned the vehicle for Rupees 550,000.
Today when the petition came up for hearing, the bench noted that vehicle was sold at such a low price (against market price of rupees 950,000 approx at relevant time). The bench also noted that despite a restraining order, the vehicle was disposed of.
The bench comprising Chief Justice Sajjad Ali Shah and Justice Zulfiqar Ahmed Khan advised the Customs Preventive to settle the issue with the petitioner out of the court within 10 days or it will pass the orders appropriate orders.