ISLAMABAD: The Customs Appellate Tribunal heard several customs references during recent week of December involving Collectorate of Customs and Directorate General of Intelligence and Investigations.
Chairman, Justice (r) Malik Manzoor Hussain conducted most of the hearings and the bench also adjourned hearing of a customs reference filed by Ayyan Ali.
Ayyan Ali’s counsel, Sardar Latif Khosa, had filed a petition at the Customs Appellate Tribunal, Islamabad, challenging decision of a lower customs court regarding confiscation of $500,000, and imposition of fine for trying to smuggle money out of Pakistan.
A division bench of the tribunal comprising chairman, Justice (r) Manzoor Hussain and Ziauddin Wazir heard the matter and adjourned the hearing for the first week of January, 2017.
Ayyan was arrested from Benazir Bhutto International Airport with $500,000 in March 2015. The Airport Security Force (ASF) intercepted her and recovered the said amount from her luggage. She was released on bail after four months in Adiala Jail.
Meanwhile, the bench also reserved decisions of three references filed against Directorate General of Intelligence and Investigations, Islamabad.
A division bench of the tribunal headed by Chairman Justice (r) Malik Manzoor Hussain and Member Ziauddin Wazir held the hearing reserved decisions on three references filed by M/s Pakistan Royal Group, M/s Irfan Ullah and M/s Charisma Catering Islamabad. The appellants had filed the cases challenging announcements made by the DGI&I, Islamabad. All three cases were filed in 2016.
M/s Pakistan Royal Group and M/s Charisma Catering Islamabad had asked the tribunal to direct the department to release the imported items which were confiscated by the customs authorities under alleged attempts of smuggling.
M/s Irfan Ullah had prayed the tribunal to order the department to release his vehicle which the authorities had stated as cut and weld. The appellant had asked the tribunal to set aside the decision announced by the department and release the vehicle.
The bench, after hearing the arguments, reserved decisions on the three cases. In the meantime, the bench also adjourned the hearing of a couple of other customs references.
