KARACHI: The Sindh High Court (SHC) restrained customs officials from auctioning a Toyota Surf Jeep bearing registration number BF-6328 on a constitutional petition filed by Khalilur Rahman. The jeep was seized by the customs authorities for being smuggled or not duty paid.
While the hearing of the petition, a two-member bench, comprising Justice Munib Akhtar and Justice Omer Sial issued notices to the customs authorities and deputy attorney general of Pakistan, directing them to file their respective para wise comments on the next date of hearing.
Earlier, counsel for the petitioner stated that he purchased a jeep Toyota surf bearing registration number BF-6328 after fulfillment of all the legal formalities, however, customs authorities seized his vehicle without lawful authority, being aggrieved it moved to customs appellate tribunal which directed to customs authorities to release his vehicle, however, customs officials are going to auctioning his vehicle unlawfully.
He submitted that act of the customs officials is arbitrary and unlawfully. After the initial hearing, court passed restraining order and called comments from customs officials for next date of hearing.
Citing Secretary Ministry of Finance, Chairman Federal Board of Revenue, Collector of Customs Appraisement, Collector of Customs Preventive, Deputy Collector of Customs Anti-Smuggling Organization and others as respondents, petitioner pleaded the court may declare that act of the respondents is illegal, mala fide and arbitrary, he submitted that court may restrain them from auctioning his vehicle.
Petitioner also pleaded the court may restrain the customs authorities from taking any coercive action against the petitioner till final order of this petition.
