ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Tuesday adjourned the hearing of a case against a decision announced by Customs Appellate Tribunal Technical Member M Nasir Khan in a cell phones smuggling case.
A division bench comprising Justice Aamer Farooq and Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kiyani heard the case filed by Muhammad Nadeem.
The appellant had challenged Customs Appellate Tribunal verdict before the court. The tribunal had maintained to confiscate 50 mobiles belonging to the appellant.
He (Nadeem) was caught while importing unhallowed mobile items which were seized by the customs authorities at Benazir Bhutto International Airport, Islamabad.
Later, Customs Adjudication collector had then decided to confiscate of 50 mobile phones and termed the endeavor as ‘smuggling’ of mobile items.
The adjudication also offered the Nadeem to redeem mobile items by paying fine (30 percent) of total cost of mobile items. The appellant had declined the offer.
The appellant brought the matter to the Customs Appellate Tribunal where the decision of the adjudication was upheld; however the tribunal strike down the decisions to term mobile phones’ import as ‘smuggling’.
The tribunal did not grant any further relief to the party stating the reason that the adjudication had already offered him to redeem the confiscated items by paying 30 percent of the total cost.
Now, the IHC division bench would hear the matter following petition filed by Nadeem in which the appellant had sought relief from court and release of mobile without paying fine. The appellant had termed the adjudication and tribunal’s decision as lacking lawful grounds and discriminatory.
