Govt asked to amend anti-smuggling act

The Supreme Court has recommended amendment to the Anti-Smuggling Act, 1977 for being filled with “flaws”, and sent it to the parliament for review.

Justice Shahid Waheed penned a seven-page written order regarding the anti-smuggling act.

The court order stated that the Anti-Narcotics Force (ANF) in 1998 lodged a complaint that a person named Obaid Khan had made property through smuggling.

It said that in the anti-smuggling act, the role of ANF is solely that of an informant to the special judge. It added that once the position of the accused is disclosed, the matter remains between the judge and the accused.

The order said that under the anti-smuggling act, the role of complainant ceases to exist after reporting to the judge. The anti-smuggling act does not provide any right of appeal to the ANF or the state but to the affected party – the accused.

It was said that the lack of right of appeal to the government meant that the act continued to benefit the accused.