ISLAMABAD, Jan 28: The Supreme Court has adjourned until Feb 17 the cases involving seizure of 600 containers of chalia (beetlenut) by the customs authorities.
The customs authorities had seized 600 containers full of chalia after getting a report that its infestation level was beyond 10 per cent, and was unfit for human consumption.
The chalia importers challenged the decision in Sindh High Court and presented a report from Aga Khan Laboratory which stated that the product was fit for human consumption. However, when the Aga Khan Laboratory was asked to explain its report, one of its officials informed the SHC that their laboratory had not issued any such report.
Upon dismissal of the writ petitions from the Sindh High Court, the matter came to the Supreme Court. Justice Deedar Hussain Shah and Justice Faqir Mohammad Khokhar heard the case on Tuesday, in which Deputy Attorney General sought time to file a concise statement.
In one of the hearings, the CBR chairman had told the court that on getting reports from the Pakistan Medical Association and different NGOs that the contaminated chalia could cause cancer, the customs stopped their containers, and sent samples for laboratory tests. Upon getting the result that the infestation was more than 10 per cent, the containers were seized, he said.
The Central Board of Revenue(CBR) chief had recommended to the Supreme Court to appoint a laboratory from where the seized chalia should be re-tested. The samples should be collected by a committee comprising customs authorities, members of PMA, NGOs, and the importers. If the product was found fit for human consumption, the CBR would have no objection to the consignments' release.
The Central Board of Revenue, however, has developed reservations about the government counsel and has reportedly asked the law ministry to appoint another counsel for presenting its case, or allow the department to appoint a private counsel.
The CBR officials are quoting a recent order of Supreme Court in which DAG Raja Mohammmad Irshad had "voluntarily stated at the Bar that during the pendency of these matters, customs authorities will not take any action prejudicial to the petitioners."