BY: IMRAN KHAN
KARACHI: In a significant development, the Sindh High Court has dismissed a request by the Customs Department to seize goods after the submission of a final challan, and summoned the investigating officer to appear before the court on May 19, 2025.
According to details, the Export Collectorate Port Qasim had earlier uncovered a case of corruption within the Export Processing Zone (EPZ) and registered a case. Following the completion of investigations, the investigating officer submitted the final challan to the Customs Court. However, the officer did not request the seizure of goods at that stage.
Subsequently, the Customs Department issued notices to the accused under Sections 165 and 171 of the Customs Act, aiming to justify the confiscation of the goods. Legal experts argue that such action is not permissible once the final challan has been submitted, unless specific instructions are issued by the court.
Challenging the department’s notices, the importer approached the Sindh High Court. Representing the importer, Advocate Anil Zia presented substantial legal arguments against the move by Customs. After hearing the arguments, the court rejected the seizure request and ordered the investigating officer to provide a formal explanation in court on May 19.
Legal observers view this decision as a reinforcement of due process and judicial oversight, ensuring that procedural requirements are not bypassed by government authorities.
