IHC seeks report about holding of dates consignment at Islamabad airport

Islamabad

Justice Athar Minallah of the Islamabad High Court (IHC) here Monday directed, director general (DG) Department of Plant Protection to submit a report within one week in the matter where an IIU director has challenged holding of his 350Kg dates consignment at Islamabad Airport.

Petitioner Abdullah Al-Afifi through his counsel Rehanuddin Khan Golra contended before the court that the custom authorities had no objection over the consignment that arrived in Islamabad on May 18, but the officials of plant protection department under food ministry stopped the consignment and ordered to produce the quarantine certificate that must be issued by the Saudi ministry of Agriculture.

Petitioner Afifi a director of International Islamic University (IIU) Islamabad had filed a petition before the IHC after his consignment of around 350 KG Saudi dates was held up at Islamabad airport due to problems with the paperwork.

The petitioner adopted before the court that the consignment contains perishable items and is detained without any justification.

Shahid Abdullah, a representative from plant protection department in response to the court notices had submitted a reply that could not satisfy the court.

IHC bench here Monday directed DG plant protection to submit reply and adjourned the matter.