KARACHI: The Sindh High Court (SHC) sought comments from Customs Intelligence and Investigation-anti-smuggling, Karachi in a case filed by it against the decision of the Customs Appellate Tribunal regarding an alleged smuggled/non-duty paid used dumper truck case.
A two-member bench, headed by Justice Munib Akhter heard the application in which Samiullah, owner of the vehicle and Customs Tribunal-bench-I Judicial member have been cited as respondents.
Earlier, counsel for the applicant stated that on creditable information customs authorities intercepted a dumper truck bearing registration number TAC-233 near Hyderabad bypass. Driver was asked to produce legal import documents but he produced only registration book issued by the Excise and Taxation. Therefore, vehicle was detained, after the examination dated March 24, 2013 as it was found that the present chassis number is re-punched, after erasing the original digits that could not be deciphered under the present number due to cause of deep grinding.
According to the applicant, it is quite evident that the detained truck was smuggled into the country without payment of duty/taxes and re-punched its chassis number. A notice was served on owner named Samiullah. Later, the competent authority declared it violation of Imports and Exports (control) Act, 1950. But Samiullah filed an appeal before Customs Appellate Tribunal which was accepted without appreciating the facts and law, the counsel argued.
The counsel pleaded the SHC may set aside the order of the Customs Appellate Tribunal.
