KARACHI: Sindh High Court has ordered Hyderabad Customs’ Deputy Collector to appear before the bench to confirm the number of cigarette cartons confiscated by a raiding team.
The order was issued by a division bench comprising Justice Munib Akhtar and Justice Omar Sial.
A local importer/dealer purchased 375 cartons of cigarette from a Customs auction and the same were stored a godown located within limits of Hyderabad division. The Customs authorities raided two godowns. The petitioner/purchaser, Haji Fazal, challenged the confiscation of the cartons before the Tribunal which ordered release of the same.
As order of the tribunal was not implemented, the petitioner moved SHC through counsel Ms Dil Khurram Shaheen who submitted that 375 cartons were duly purchased and could not be confiscated being smuggled one. She also submitted auction documents.
The counsel for respondent collectorate submitted that cartons are 345 in number and not 375.
