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ISLAMABAD, Nov 06 (APP): A division bench of the Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Thursday issued a show-cause notice to the Collector Customs and Member Legal Customs for contempt of court in a case related to the vehicle seized by Customs from a citizen in Islamabad being used by the Commissioner Inland Revenue in Karachi.
The court also sought an inquiry report along with an affidavit from the Collector Customs on the order to remove the original number plate of the vehicle and install a fake one.
A two-judge bench comprising Justice Babar Sattar and Justice Sardar Ijaz Ishaq Khan heard the case.
The court issued a notice to Commissioner Inland Revenue Sardar Taimur Khan Durrani through the Chairman FBR Office and summoned him in person on November 10.
During the hearing, the Collector Customs also admitted to bringing the vehicle to the Islamabad High Court with a fake number plate. Justice Babar Sattar inquired who handed over the vehicle to Customs from the Archaeology Department. The customs lawyer told the court that the driver of the archaeology department left the vehicle at the customs warehouse and took off the number plate. The customs collector said that the vehicle had to be presented in the High Court, so a second number plate was put on it and this is a routine task.
Justice Babar Sattar inquired who ordered the fake number plate to be put on the vehicle. To which Collector Customs Rizwan Salabat told the court that the driver had put up the number plate.
Justice Babar Sattar said that they should be ashamed, the officers should take responsibility. He asked that Why was the number plate of a Suzuki Alto registered in Karachi put up? Under which law did you put up a fake number plate? Why shouldn’t you be sent to jail for putting up a fake number plate on the vehicle, the court questioned.
The Collector Customs said that the vehicle had to be brought to the red zone, so a different number plate was put up, there are many such number plates in the warehouse, the driver put it up.
Justice Babar Sattar said what are you saying, one driver took off the plate, another put it up, you are a collector, you are responsible, you should be ashamed, you are an officer, why are you lying in court?. He remarked that If an officer comes to court and lies, then what option is left other than contempt of court? If a mistake has been made, come to court and tell the truth.
The court said that the purpose of the contempt of court notice is to implement the orders, not to punish them. There will be consequences for this, it added.
Along with the above-mentioned observations, the court summoned the Director General of the Archaeology Department Peshawar along with the concerned driver in person on November 10, and said that the vehicle was being used by the Archaeology Department. The DG should conduct an inquiry and submit a report. The DG should also submit a report along with an affidavit stating how the vehicle reached the Commissioner of Inland Revenue from the Archaeology Department. The court also sought an inquiry report including an affidavit from the Member Customs Operations and asked them to tell how the vehicle reached the Commissioner of Inland Revenue.
The court adjourned the hearing of the case till November 10. The customs officials had given a statement in the court to provide the vehicle to the Archaeology Department Peshawar. According to the Collector Customs, the Toyota Land Cruiser Prado vehicle was given to the Archaeology Department for a token amount of Rs. 100,000.