KARACHI: The Pakistan Customs is facing colossal revenue loss in terms of its stuck up cases in different courts, including Supreme Court of Pakistan (SCP) and Sindh High Court (SHC).
Sources told Customs Today that around 1250 cases of high and low profiles in connection with tax evasion are pending in different courts which are affecting collection of revenue at large.
Sources informed that around 300 cases of Model of Customs Collectorate MCC Appraisement-West are pending in Supreme Court of Pakistan and Sindh High Court; around 400 legal cases of MCC Appraisement-East are pending in respective courts; around 250 cases of the MCC Preventive are waiting for courts verdict while around 350 cases linked with MCC Port Muhammad Bin Qasim are pending in courts of law.
Sources further said that huge amounts estimating billions of rupees are involved in these pending cases, however; improper strategy and lack of interest from the authorities concerned of the Collectorates have given an opportunity to the tax evaders to get stay-orders in the cases from different courts.
Responding to a query, the sources informed that the main reason of losing or not following the cases in different courts is that Pakistan Customs appoint lawyers to defend their view points at very nominal fee while the tax evaders utilize their all available resources and for hiring prominent lawyers for defending their view point.
Collector MCC Appraisement-West Muhammad Saleem has recently asked the authorities concerned of the Collectorate to furnish record of the cases pending in Supreme Court of Pakistan, Sindh High Court and other courts of law in order to follow the suits in courts of law accordingly.