ISLAMABAD: Customs Appellate Tribunal Division Bench II comprising Member Judicial Chaudhry Muhammad Maqsood and Member Technical Muhammad Nasir Khan has ordered to seize anti-aircraft and stain guns used in World War I and continued Orderin-Original04/2012 while hearing the appeal number 97/CU/IB/2012.
The Bench rejected the proposal of formation of local commission to monitor the guns in appeal. DC Headquarter Yawar Nawaz and Inspector Shakeel Ahmed were representing Customs.
These guns were made in 1914 by Birmingham Small Arms Company Limited for Arms Automatic Luis Belgium.
According to details Customs Staff deputed at Jerry Dnata export shed upon checking arms consignment booked for Ukraine, found that the antique guns and their parts are being smuggled in the name of export of new guns. The NOC issued from Defense Ministry for particular export was also for new guns.
The consignment was booked by Feroz Khan of Khan GMBH through clearing agent Universal Freight Systems Private Limited Islamabad.
The consignment contained 5 Luis 303 anti-aircraft automatic guns model 1994, used and extra parts for Luis guns 303 ( 5 eye pieces, 5 butts, 5 handles, 5 drum magazines, parts of barrel and 5 front cups of barrel) along with 4 stain guns used in World War I and 4 magazines.
Customs has seized the consignment and sent the matter to Directorate General Archeology, who has declared report number 27/05/2009/Arch(P-1) as antique. The exporter Khan GMBH says that these are nor original guns but replica of those antique guns, whereas Customs Appellate Tribunal in the light of Directorate General Archeology report declared these items as antique and called the action as violation of section 2(b) and I of Antique Act 1975.
Tribunal has also imposed penalty of Rs 0.1 million on the exporter.
