ISLAMABAD: Deputy Collector Customs Adjudication Islamabad Dr. Wajid Ali has ordered the release of body parts of changed vehicle subject to payment of taxable duty and taxes of Rs173.730m. The deputy collector imposed a fine of 20% on the changed body parts and appraised value. Deputy Collector has passed the Order-in-Original in the seizure case No: 240/2017 that relying upon various judgments passed by the Honourable Superior Courts of Pakistan in which the issue of change of accessories and body parts of various identical vehicles was adjudged by releasing the vehicles after payment of duty and taxes on the changed parts. Mazda Mini Truck with registration No: LES-16-7610 is released to its lawful owner.
According to the Judgment, it has been reported that a non-duty paid Mazda mini is smuggled and plying in the jurisdiction of Model Customs Collectorate Islamabad. In the light of the received information, a raiding party was constituted which set up a picket at G.T Road Tarnol. During the checking, the tipped-off vehicle was seen coming from Fateh Jang side which was signaled to stop. During the examination of the documents, the vehicle in question is Model 1951 but the physically vehicle is 1998-Model. The vehicle was therefore impounded under Section 17 of the Customs Act-1969 for further verification in this regard. To confirm the status of the chassis number of the subject vehicle, said vehicle was referred to FSL, Police HQ Islamabad.
The examination of the vehicle has revealed that the chassis number is manually punched. The formation and alignment of the digits is abnormal. The chassis number frame has not been cut and welded. The chemical treatment of the chassis number of the Hino Truck Reg. No LEI-16-7610 has revealed that its present chassis number 1277 is manually punched. Prior to the issuance of show cause notice, respondent submitted an application wherein he stated that he is ready to pay the leviable duty/taxes and fine leviable on the seized body changed vehicle. The matter was referred to the principal Appraiser, Islamabad Dry Port Islamabad who re-assessed the value as Rs150000. The duty taxes have been calculated that customs duty Rs75000, ACD Rs. 11500, Sales Tax Rs42075, withholding Tax Rs7425 and total amount is Rs173730. Deputy Collector examined the case record, and relying upon various judgments passed by the Honourable Superior Courts of Pakistan, has ordered the release of the vehicle.
