PESHAWAR, April 27: The Peshawar High Court on Wednesday stayed recovery of Rs10 million from Interior Minister Aftab Ahmad Sherpao, levied as customs duty on the import of a luxury car. A two-member bench, comprising Justice Shehzad Akber Khan and Justice Qaim Jan Khan, suspended the operation of an order issued in 1999 by a customs collector, directing Mr Sherpao to pay the amount.

The bench also admitted to full hearing a writ petition filed by Mr Sherpao, requesting the court to declare the order of the customs official as illegal.

The petitioner’s counsel Zafar Abbas Zaidi contended that Mr Sherpao was not the only person who had imported Mercedes car. A number of other dignitaries had imported similar vehicles.

He told the court that Mr Sherpao was chief minister of the NWFP in 1996 when an act was passed by parliament whereby several dignitaries were exempted from payment of customs duty on import of vehicles.

He added that Mr Sherpao had imported the car after the act had been passed and, thus, he had been exempted from paying the duty.

Mr Zaidi contended that even the cabinet division had conceded in its comments that the stance of the petitioner was correct.

He requested the court to stay the recovery of the customs duty till a verdict on the petition.

On the other hand, Deputy Attorney-General Salahuddin Khan argued that the petitioner had not produced an exemption certificate. Thus, he would have to pay the customs duty.