ISLAMABAD: On the first day of hearing cases, Customs Appellate Tribunal Chairman Justice (r) Manzoor Hussain reserved decisions in three customs matters here on Wednesday.
Resuming the hearing of cases for the first time at the tribunal, the chairman heard seven cases filed against Model Customs Collectorate, Islamabad.
After hearing the arguments on the cases, the chairman reserved decisions on three cases filed by M/s Degicell and others, M Akram and others and Dr Saeedullah.
M/S Degicell & others and Dr Saeedullah had filed petitions carrying submissions on authorisation of FTA-Free Trade Agreement certificate. The bench heard arguments in which the counsels from appellants and reserved decision on the cases which was likely to be announced in couple of days.
M Akram & others had filed a cases regarding settling claim about money refund for vehicle damaged in an accident.
These petitioners had challenged decision announced by the Islamabad Customs. M/S Degicell & others and Dr Saeedullah had also informed the tribunal about hindrances they were facing while importing mobile phones from abroad. They argued that customs authorities had time and again imposed duties of different kinds in violation of FTA.
The chairman also heard argument from customs representatives. The bench reserved decisions of cases after both sides completed their submissions.
The chairman had directed tribunal staffers to finalize preparations for completing hearing of already pending cases with the tribunal immediately after taking charge of the office in early days of August.
After taking charge of the tribunal’s administration, the newly appointed chairman issued directives to the employees of tribunal that those cases -which were old and already pending with the tribunal- would be heard on a priority basis.
The tribunal staffers stated that the move was oriented to bring immediate relief to appellants contesting their cases at tribunal since long.