ISLAMABAD: The Customs Appellate Tribunal held the hearing of a couple of important cases during the second week of January in which appellants had submitted complaints against field offices of the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR).
Two different benches of tribunal had heard cases filed by Ayyan Ali and M/s Warid Telecom (Private) Limited. Hearing on the former’s case was adjourned after issuance of notices to sides, while the later was adjourned following non-submission of related documents by the counsels.
A division bench of the Customs Appellate Tribunal, headed by Chairman Justice (r) Manzoor Hussain, dated in office the hearing of a case filed by supermodel Ayyan Ali.
The bench issued notices to Collector customs, Islamabad and the other counsels. The bench then dated in office hearing the case. The bench is likely to resume hearing on the case during next visit of chairman to tribunal headquarters in Islamabad.
Ayyan Ali’s counsel, Sardar Latif Khosa, had filed the petition at Customs Appellate Tribunal, Islamabad challenging decision of a lower customs court regarding confiscation of $500,000, seized while being smuggled allegedly by Ayyan Ali, and imposition of fine for trying to smuggle money out of Pakistan.
The tribunal’s division bench comprising of Chairman, Justice (r) Manzoor Hussain and Ziauddin Wazir heard the matter.
Ayyan was arrested from Benazir Bhutto International Airport with $500,000 in March 2015. The Airport Security Force intercepted her and recovered the said amount from her luggage. She was released on bail after four months in Adiala Jail.
Through the petition, Ayyan’s counsel challenged the said decision announced by a Rawalpindi customs court. The court had indicted Ayyan for trying to smuggle $500,000 out of the Pakistan.
Another division bench of Tribunal adjourned hearing of a customs reference wherein M/S Warid Telecom Private Limited has challenged an announcement made by the Model Collectorate of Customs, Islamabad.
Members Tribunal, Syed Muhammad Anwar and Muhammad Nasir Khan heard the matter and adjourned. The bench had also adjourned hearing on the matter in the last week for non-submission of relating pending documents by the counsels.
M/s Warid Telecom Private Limited had filed the case against Model Coollectorate of Customs, Islamabad. The company had filed the case in 2016.
Through the petition, the company had challenged a decision announced by the adjudication for sustaining claims of recoverable customs duty of around Rs 40 million.
