KARACHI: The Customs Collectorate of Preventive has registered the First Information Report (FIR) against the suspects, who were allegedly involved in using a non-duty paid car and evading duty and taxes of Rs 12,173,291.
Senior Preventive Officer, Customs House, Azhar Malik, in the FIR mentioned that Muhammad Saleem Khan and Haji Gul Muhammad Jattak (both absconders) were using smuggled or non-duty paid vehicle Toyota Cygnus jeep, registration no: JAD-789, which was seen on roads in vicinity of Tariq Road, Karachi.
Azhar Malik noted that other description of Toyota Cygnus jeep is, chassis no: UZJ100-0155074, engine No:2UZ-FE-9056126, model 2005, 4700 CC and in used condition, the appraisement collectorate estimate its worth around Rs45,98,280/- .
The FIR also mentioned that a team was constituted which includes sepoys namely Muhammad Iqbal Javed, Mohsin Mughal, Shahbaz, Abdul Waheed and Azhar Malik and found the Toyota Cygnus jeep parked on the road in front of the workshop situated at car A/Cs repairing market, Khushal Road, behind Tariq Road.
According to the FIR, Muhammad Saleem Khan, introduced himself as a owner to the visiting team, who was asked to produce the documents to substantiate the legal possession/importation of the said vehicle, to which he showed a Registration Book of the vehicle vide No:NC0061599 in which Haji Gul Muhammad Jattak was shown as registered owner.
The FIR revealed that Muhammad Saleem Khan repeatedly emphasised that this Jeep is genuine and the import status could be verified from the PRAL as well as MRA record through chassis number of the vehicle.
It also mentioned that Azhar Malik contacted officers of Anti-Smuggling Organisation/HQ, NMB Wharf, Karachi and asked them for verification of the import status of the vehicle with the help of chassis number as apparent from the registration book.
As per the FIR, the ASO/HQ after going through online PRAL/MRA systems categorically conformed that the vehicle with foregoing referred chassis number was legally imported but the same vehicle was found registered with MRA Karachi vide Registration No:BF-7252 and owned by M/s Pak Gulf Leasing Company Ltd., Karachi, which means the vehicle with registration No:JAD-789 was either tampered or registered on the basis of fake/forged documents.
The FIR said that after due confirmation, it was inevitable to impound the vehicle for further verification. The impugned Jeep was taken into custody in presence of two musheres including Muhammad Iqbal Javed and Mohsin Mughal under the cover of mushirnama prepared on the spot and brought at ASO/HQ, NMB Wharf.
It stated that detail examination was carried out in presence of musheers and forensic test report No:AIG/FD/Veh/OR/153/2017 received from AIG Police Forensic Division Sindh, confirmed that the last seven digits (…., 0155074) of present chassis serial (UZJ100-0155074) were re-punched after erasing the original digits. The last seven digits (…., XX28209) have been slightly deciphered after chemical process under the present chassis serial (UZJ100-0155074).
It also stated that the M/s PRAL Customs, User Support Group, Custom House, confirmed that Toyota Land Cruiser Cygnus Automatic with chassis No:UZJ100-0155074 was imported vide GD No:KAPR-HC-25468 dated 18/09/2007.
The FIR shows that vehicle was registered at Motor Registration Authority Quetta on the basis of fake and forged documents. Muhammad Saleem Khan did not turn up for his defence to substantiate the lawful import of the vehicle.
It also shows that in light of all verification reports, it has been established that the registration was done on basis of fake, forged and fabricated documents produced by the owner and the vehicle has been seized for violating Section 2(s) and 178 of Customs Act, 1969 punishable under clause (8) and (89) of Section 156(I) ibid.
