KARACHI, Jan 27: The Sindh High Court ordered the anti-car lifting cell (ACLC) on Friday to deposit a vehicle impounded by it with its nazir.

The order was passed by a division bench hearing a writ petition filed by Shahid Qazi against the secretary of excise and taxation, the home secretary, the excise department’s motor registration wing, the SSP of ACLC and the DIG for Investigations.

The petitioner maintained that he purchased a Toyota Land Cruiser from one Bilal Ahmed. The vehicle was taken into custody by the ACLC on Sept 6, 2005, on unfounded suspicion of being stolen property. He presented documents to the cell but failed to persuade it release the vehicle.

The petitioner’s counsel, Suleiman Habibullah, argued that the report obtained by the ACLC itself proved that vehicle was not stolen and the sale transaction was genuine.

A provincial government law officer, however, submitted that the vehicle was seized on genuine suspicion and that the owner was asked to produce original documents, including registration papers.

The bench, which consisted of Justices Anwar Zaheer Jamali and Mohammad Athar Saeed, asked the ACLC officers to deposit the vehicle with the Nazir of SHC. The bench also directed the petitioner to produce the documents required by the police. The ownership issue was ordered to be decided within two months.