PESHAWAR: The Model Customs Collectorate Peshawar has once again directed the Excise and Taxation Department to hand over all the impounded non-duty paid vehicles to the Customs Department in accordance with an order of the Supreme Court, as no other department had the authority to keep such vehicles in their custody.
An official of the Peshawar Customs Collectorate said that that local courts, including the high court, were also not authorised to give away these vehicles on the basis of superdari (guarantee) to anyone, as only the special judge of the Customs Court had such powers.
The official said that copies of the apex court’s decision had already been forwarded to all police officials, especially the inspector general of police (IGP) and the deputy inspectors general (DIGs), as well as the Excise and Taxation director general, the law secretary, the administration secretary and home and tribal affairs departments to abide by the order of the court.
He said that the Excise and Taxation Department was bound to hand over all the non-duty paid vehicles to the Customs Department for their proper disposal.
He further said that hundreds of vehicles were in the custody of officials of different departments, but after the apex court’s decision the issue had been resolved once and for all.
The customs official said that every department should exercise their powers within the legal framework to avoid complications. It is pertinent to mention that the Excise and Taxation Department had refused to hand over these vehicles.
