ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court has sought a detailed response from the Customs regarding the seizure of non-custom paid (NCP) vehicles in erstwhile Federally Administered Northern Areas (now Gilgit-Baltistan) and Federally Administered Tribal Areas (newly merged districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa).
A two-member bench of the apex court headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Yahya Afridi heard the petition on Thursday against the seizure of an NCP vehicle.
During the hearing, the chief justice remarked that there should be no “pick and choose” in any matter, asking, “What kind of procedure is this for action?”
Justice Muhammad Shafi Siddiqui questioned, “What were the owners of non-custom paid vehicles supposed to do after the deadline ended?” Member Customs Saeed Akram stated that there is no amnesty scheme for NCP vehicles, and no one is being treated unfairly. Subsequently, the court sought a detailed reply from the Member Customs and adjourned further hearing of the case until September 23. It is pertinent to mention here that the petitioner’s vehicle, belonging to Azizullah, was seized by Customs officials, against which he approached the Supreme Court.