A petition has been filed in the Supreme Court requesting that an inquiry be ordered into the missing 19,000 NATO containers, allegedly carrying weapons which pose a threat of terrorism in Pakistan.
The petitioner, Barrister Zafarullah, submitted that the Afghan Transit Trade Agreement (ATTA), 1965, was being misused by NATO, ISAF and Customs for their own advantage.
He said North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) and International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) were smuggling weapons through the agreements, which had resulted in an increase in terrorism in Pakistan.
They are misusing our roads to maintain the supply line to Afghanistan without paying any tax, he added.
He added that according to an inquiry, conducted by the federal Tax Ombudsman in January 2007, 28,900 containers did not reach their destination in Afghanistan and caused the Federal Board of Revenue an estimated loss of Rs55 billion.
He prayed the court that NATO may not be allowed to use ATTA for transporting commercial or non-commercial goods without paying duty. He further prayed that no contraband item be allowed to be moved.
He also said that all goods must be declared and that a permission certificate not be issued unless the duty is paid in advance.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 23rd, 2011.
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