Court extends stay on tribunal proceedings
Customs dept is investigating the role of NLC in the disappearance of shipping containers.
KARACHI:
The Sindh High Court has extended the stay order up to November 23 granted to the National Logistics Cell (NLC) against proceedings initiated by the Pakistan Customs special tribunals into the disappearance of Nato containers.
A high court division bench, headed by Justice Aqeel Ahmed Abbasi, was hearing the case filed by the NLC seeking suspension of inquiries against the firm.
The logistical cell has been transporting goods to US and Nato-led forces fighting in Afghanistan under the Afghan Transit Trade treaty. But following the disappearance of thousands of containers carrying goods for the armed forces, Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry had ordered the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) to investigate the matter in a suo motu notice case.
The petitioner’s lawyer, Shafaat Nabi Sherwani, submitted that while the NAB had initiated a probe, special tribunals set up by the customs department have also been hearing appeals filed regarding the missing Nato containers.
Around 427 appeals against the logistics cell have so far been filed with the customs tribunals, of which 62 have been decided against the NLC, the lawyer stated.
“Such tribunals are deciding the appeals in violation of the apex court orders for investigation into the matter by the NAB,” the lawyer argued, appealing that the court declare customs proceedings as illegal. The petitioner also pleaded the court to grant an interim order against the proceedings until the case is decided.
On the last date of hearing, the Sindh High Court had stayed the proceedings of special customs tribunals and issued notices to the collector, deputy collector and the tribunals concerned to file their comments.
On Thursday, Deputy Attorney General Javed Farooqui told the court that the officials could submit their version because he had not received the petition’s copy. The judges directed the petitioner to provide a copy of the petition to the deputy attorney general, who was directed to file comments of the respondents by November 23. Notices were also reissued to the respondents with orders to file their comments before the next hearing date.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 10th, 2012.
The Sindh High Court has extended the stay order up to November 23 granted to the National Logistics Cell (NLC) against proceedings initiated by the Pakistan Customs special tribunals into the disappearance of Nato containers.
A high court division bench, headed by Justice Aqeel Ahmed Abbasi, was hearing the case filed by the NLC seeking suspension of inquiries against the firm.
The logistical cell has been transporting goods to US and Nato-led forces fighting in Afghanistan under the Afghan Transit Trade treaty. But following the disappearance of thousands of containers carrying goods for the armed forces, Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry had ordered the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) to investigate the matter in a suo motu notice case.
The petitioner’s lawyer, Shafaat Nabi Sherwani, submitted that while the NAB had initiated a probe, special tribunals set up by the customs department have also been hearing appeals filed regarding the missing Nato containers.
Around 427 appeals against the logistics cell have so far been filed with the customs tribunals, of which 62 have been decided against the NLC, the lawyer stated.
“Such tribunals are deciding the appeals in violation of the apex court orders for investigation into the matter by the NAB,” the lawyer argued, appealing that the court declare customs proceedings as illegal. The petitioner also pleaded the court to grant an interim order against the proceedings until the case is decided.
On the last date of hearing, the Sindh High Court had stayed the proceedings of special customs tribunals and issued notices to the collector, deputy collector and the tribunals concerned to file their comments.
On Thursday, Deputy Attorney General Javed Farooqui told the court that the officials could submit their version because he had not received the petition’s copy. The judges directed the petitioner to provide a copy of the petition to the deputy attorney general, who was directed to file comments of the respondents by November 23. Notices were also reissued to the respondents with orders to file their comments before the next hearing date.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 10th, 2012.