KARACHI: Owner of 950 and 1240 sticks of Benson & Hedges cigarette approached the Sindh High Court (SHC) against action taken by staff of director general, HQ Pakistan Coast Guards (PCG).
On 22 June 2020, counsel for the petitioner submitted that petitioner’s 950 and 1240 sticks of Benson & Hedges cigarettes were detained by the staff of director general, Pakistan Coast Guards, during transportation from Quetta to Karachi from vehicles bearing registration numbers BSL-908 and SBL-929 without given any notice, receipt and detention slip dated March 17, 2019.
He further submitted that it was alleged that smuggle goods were intercepted, the seizing agency is bound to issue a detention slip on the spot and same was not issued to the present claimant, if issued to another claimant same may be brought to the surface with the detention slip of the said date and in compliance of application for claim of goods the director general replied in letter dated April 29, 2019 by mentioning that the goods were seized dated March 10, 2019 and proceeding are in progress before the additional collector of customs adjudication.
Counsel further argued that this procedure of intimating the claimant of goods is self created and no remedy is available for this procedure in the customs act, 1969 adopted by the Pakistan Coast Guards, Karachi.
Petitioner said that petitioner filed appeals under section 194-A of the customs act 1969 before the appellant tribunal Karachi which was allowed by the customs appellant tribunal Karachi which was allowed accordingly.
Citing secretary Ministry of Finance & interior and DG Pakistan Coast Guards as respondents, petitioner pleaded the court to declare that act of the respondents is illegal, mala fide and arbitrary.
He further pleaded the court may direct respondent no 2 to provisionally release goods of the petitioner to save the petitioner in the light of order dated Dec 12, 2017 passed is another case to save from misappropriation and misuse of the said goods by the official of the respondent no 2 for their personal needs.
