KARACHI: The Sindh High Court (SHC) has adjourned the hearing of a constitutional petitions filed by Abdul Sattar Brohi, seeking release of his two oil tankers loaded with 30,000 liters HSD each. The tankers were seized by the customs authorities.
A two-member bench, comprising Justice Munib Akhter and Justice Anwar Hussain, was hearing the petition.
During the hearing, Kashif Nazeer advocate filed his papers on the behalf of the respondents. The counsel for the department argued that the department has filed a reference against the order of the appellate tribunal that is being relied upon by the petitioner. Therefore, the court adjourned the hearing for September 23, 2016 and directed the office that matter be fixed along with another constitutional petition.
According to the prosecution, on June 11, 2015 on the basis of specific information received by the Additional Collector-II Model Customs Collectorate Hyderabad, the officials of the anti-smuggling organization and Sindh Rangers participated in the field operation and intercepted the oil tankers which were loaded with smuggled diesel at the Balochistan border.
Counsel for the petitioner stated that he is owner of the oil tankers bearing registration number TUA -579 & TUA-840 and filed appeal before the Appellate Tribunal Karachi which had directed the authorities concerned to release the petitioner’s oil tankers. However, respondents are not releasing the oil tankers.
Citing Secretary Ministry of Finance, Customs Appellate Tribunal Karachi, Collector of Customs Adjudication Hyderabad and The Collector of Customs Model Customs Collectorate, Hyderabad as respondents, Petitioners pleaded the SHC may direct the respondents to release the petitioners’ oil tankers.
