FAISALABAD: The Anti-Smuggling Organization (AASO) Faisalabad is pending over 56 cases in courts costing national exchequer Rs89.144million.
Sources told Customs Today that increasing misunderstanding of revenue laws, flexibility of some laws and trivialization of cases are some of the main factors responsible for pendency of these cases. It is pertinent to mention here that the cases regarding tax evasion, mis-declaration and impounding of smuggled vehicles are pending in the high court, appellate tribunal, adjudication, special judge and other courts including appeals collectorate.
As per details, over 13 cases in high courts costing a total of Rs21.549millions are pending. The national exchequer has lost Rs20.602million in appellate tribunal in 18 different smugglings due to these pending cases. Increasing pending cases are not only a big worry for the FBR but it has also deprived the body of millions of rupees.
In appeals, collectorate 1 case involves Rs0.450millon whereas collectorate of adjudication’s 21 cases involve Rs32.558million revenue and three different cases in special judge court involve Rs13.985millions.
Collector Muhammad Sadiq said accused use the adjournment of the cases as taxpayers do not care for quick solution to the cases rather they try to postpone the case.