A customs appellate bench of High Court of Sindh on Tuesday termed the performance of Legal wings of customs and counsels appearing for the department as worse.
The bench comprising Justice Muhammad Junaid Ghaffar and Justice Adnan-ul-Karim Memon was hearing a bunch of petitions containing more than 100 files but matter was adjourned as Faheem Raza advocate, counsel for the department was not available and Abdul Manan Advocate held brief for him. The bench noted that counsels appearing for the FBR, both Customs and Inland Revenues are not proceedings with their matters compelling the respondents to approach the office of FTO or SHC by filing Constitutional Petitions for implementation of orders passed by the lower forums/Tribunals. This results in burdening this Court with unnecessary cases, the bench noted in its order.
The bench also referred to its earlier orders in which it was pointed out that despite having Legal Wings, customs formation are not assisting the court properly and their conduct before the SHC is pathetic. The bench observed that despite such observations/strictures, “Nothing has improved, rather the situation is even worse”.
The bench then adjourned the matter till Wednesday holding that applicant shall proceed failing which these Reference Applications will be dismissed for default.
The bench also advised the FBR, customs East, West, Enforcement, Port Qasim, SAPT and Member (Legal) Customs & Inland Revenue to examine this order and engage only such counsels who are readily available in the Court to proceed with their matters.
