KARACHI: The Sindh High Court (SHC) extended its stay order on auction of 60,000 liters of smuggled Iranian diesel till September 04.
The court issued notice to the customs authorities to file their response to the petition against auction of Iranian diesel. Petitioner Abdullah submitted that the customs officers had seized 138,000 liters of smuggled Iranian diesel in February 2015. Subsequently, it was auctioned and Kepler Petroleum (Private) Limited being highest bidder bought it after paying Rs 8.19 million
He said later the firm sold 120,000 liters to him out of which 60, 000 liters were transferred into an oil tanker with registration No.TLE-229 for its transportation to Sindh province. He added Pakistan Customs’ Anti-Smuggling Organisation (ASO) intercepted the oil tanker carrying 60,000 liters diesel at Mirpurkhas Road and seized the diesel illegally even after the driver tried to convince the officials that the diesel was purchased legally at an auction.
The petitioner said the customs officer had given the driver a notice dated May 2015 telling him about disposal of the diesel through an auction. He stated he had run from pillar to post to recover the seized diesel but the respondent customs authorities were adamant to sell it. He prayed to the Court to restrain the customs officials from auctioning the seized diesel and issue directives for them to return it. During preliminary hearing in June 2015, the Court had stayed auction of the diesel.
