ISLAMABAD: Customs Appellate Tribunal bench adjourned the hearing of a customs reference, filed against Model Collectorate of Customs, Islamabad, till next week.
The bench adjourned the hearing as requested by the parties who had yet to complete arguments in the case challenging seizure of imported mobile phones.
A division bench of Customs Appellate Tribunal, Muhammad Nasir Khan and Ziauddin Wazire adjourned hearing of a complaint seeking release of seized 150 mobile phones. During last hearing the bench had directed the parties to provided details of relating to the case on next date of hearing.
The appellant, through the case had challenged the decision in which tribunal had ordered to maintain seizure of mobile phones first confiscated by the customs authorities at Benazir Bhutto International Airport, Islamabad.
That time, Customs Appellate Tribunal’s single bench comprising of Member Technical, Muhammad Nasir Khan heard the petition challenging Model Collectorate of Islamabad’s decision of mobile phones confiscation.
The tribunal had then dismissed the matter and upheld Customs Collectorate’s decision regarding confiscation of mobile phones worthy Rs 6 million.
The petitioner had brought the mobiles into Pakistan through airport which MCC had declared illegal and in violation of regulations adopted for carrying mobiles phone in luggage.
The Customs authorities had confiscated the mobile phones at the airport and subsequently decided not to release them as the petitioner had violated the rules while returning to Pakistan. He had claimed that he carried 170 mobile phone which he gift his friends and family members.
It is pertinent to mention that another tribunal bench had also heard a similar cases couple of months ago. The bench had maintained adjudication decision and did not set aside the confiscation of mobile phones by the department. The appellant then had approached the high court against the tribunal’s decision.
