Case property: PHC gives until Oct 16 to return all ‘supurdari’ vehicles

PESHAWAR:

The Peshawar High Court (PHC) has given the Excise and Taxation (E&T) department until October 16 to recover all ‘supurdari’ vehicles.

Superdari automobiles are mostly case property, which have been confiscated for non-payment of customs duty, have been used to commit a crime or have been smuggled from Afghanistan. At present, most of these vehicles are being used by government officials.

PHC Chief Justice Dost Muhammad Khan, while hearing a suo motu case along with Mrs Justice Irshad Qaisar, was told that all those having supurdari vehicles have been informed about court orders and so far 19 vehicles, including two from police officials, have been recovered.

E&T department Legal Advisor Gohar Rehman Khattak, Director-General Arshad Khan and Excise Secretary Muhammad Akbar Khan said that the police have been instructed to help retrieve the cars.

Khattak also produced a list of people possessing such vehicles. This list includes provincial ministers, members of provincial assembly, assembly employees and officials of the E&T and finance department.

He notified the bench that letters have been issued to all officials concerned, who have been told to return the cars before October 16. However, he requested the court for more time to recover all the cars.

CJ Khan said the department had been given clear instructions about the matter nearly four months ago. “Find the vehicles even if they are in possession of the prime minister of Pakistan,” CJ Khan ordered, adding that officials should expedite their efforts. He warned of contempt of court proceedings if orders are not adhered to.

“All vehicles, given to influential persons, should be taken back and housed at the warehouse. The court should be provided all information supported by the affidavit within one month,” CJ Khan added.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 12^th, 2012.