KARACHI, Nov 28: Justice Muhammad Mujeebullah Siddiqui of Sindh High Court on Monday observed that a check on Motor Vehicle Registration wing of Excise and Taxation Department had become absolutely necessary, as the wing was issuing registration documents to vehicle owners without verification from Pakistan Customs causing colossal loss to the state revenue.

The bench was hearing a constitution petition filed by Mehboob Ali, resident of Goth Jagon, District Sanghar, against Pakistan Customs which seized a Toyota Prado vehicle purchased by him from respondent Ghulam Haider.

The petitioner maintained that a team of Pakistan Customs intercepted his vehicle on July 28. He was asked to show documents relating to payment of custom duty. The petitioner showed registration documents but the vehicle was seized by the Pakistan Custom officials.

The bench asked the counsel for petitioner to submit documents to establish that vehicle was legally imported into Pakistan.

The counsel stated that seller/ respondent Ghulam Haider did not gave any such document to the purchaser/ petitioner, however, an endorsement that custom verification was made by the Assistant Excise and Taxation Officer was available on record.

After perusing the entire set of documents relied upon by the petitioner side, the bench held that documents produced by the petitioner did not lead to the conclusion that the vehicle was legally imported.

It was further held that “It appears that registration certificate has been issued without proper verification from the customs department.”

The bench directed the office to send the order to the chief secretary and director anti-corruption establishment to make proper enquiry into the conduct of concerned officials of the MVR wing of excise and taxation department. The bench observed that if the officials could not furnish proper explanation, they must be dealt with in accordance with law.

The bench with above order dismissed the petition in limine.

PLEAS DISPOSE OF: Sindh High Court disposed of quashment applications of four Afghan nationals under Foreigners Act after statement of standing counsel that the case against the applicants has been withdrawn.

Abdul Hafeez, Abdul Qayum, Abdul Hakeem and Mohammad Siddique sought quashment of FIRs registered against them under sections 3(a) (b) 13 and 14 of Foreigners Act.

Their counsels Tayyaba Mehar and Nisar Magsi submitted that the applicants were imprisoned on April 17. They said they sought refuge in Pakistan without any documents due to war and disturbances in Afghanistan and submitted that no criminal proceedings were pending against them.

They also drew attention of the court to the notifications of government of Pakistan, Punjab government and tripartite agreement signed by the government of Pakistan, Afghanistan and the UNHCR.

SHC’s single bench comprising Justice Mohammad Sadiq Leghari, in view of statement of standing counsel Mehmood Alam Rizvi, disposed of the applications.—APP/PPI