KARACHI: The Special Court of Customs Taxation and Anti-Smuggling on Wednesday acquitted a suspect in a case of smuggling of 500 tola gold.
Judge Syed Faiz Rasool Rashdi pronounced the verdict. Earlier, the court had reserved its verdict after hearing final arguments from defence and prosecution side.
In 1997, 500 tola gold was recovered from possession of Abdul Majeed at Jinnah International Airport. It was alleged that he smuggled the gold into country without paying duty and taxes. Subsequently, an FIR was registered against him under the sections of Customs Act, 1969.
During the hearing, the counsel for the alleged smuggler had told the judge that the Sindh High Court (SHC) had directed the collector of customs to release the seized gold after receiving duty and taxes payable at the time of seizure. However, the collector appealed the verdict in the Supreme Court but his appeal was rejected and the court upheld the high court’s judgment.
He, however, lamented that despite the court orders, the customs authorities are reluctant to release the gold. He said his client is being offered the cost of the seized gold as per its market value at the time seizure which he is declining as it would cause huge loss to him, adding, he has faced mental agony so long and besides sold house and spend entire life savings on pleading his case.
The counsel said that his client is willing to pay whatever import duty and taxes payable as of now on import of gold provided either gold is returned or its cost is given as per market value.
