IHC nulls Excise Office’s order to seize female schoolteacher’s car

Islamabad High Court has nulled Excise Office’s order to seize schoolteacher Maria Fayyaz's car, reported 24NewsHD TV channel on Saturday. 

The Excise and Taxation Office had issued an order to seize the car on March 5, 2020.

In its written verdict, the court wrote that the petitioner saved her salary and bought a 1990 model Toyota Corolla for herself.

On January 21, 2020, she sent her husband to the Excise Office to transfer the car in her name. 

The ETO checked the car and gave a receipt after collecting the required fee.

The same evening, a call was received from the Excise Office and the car was asked to be brought back to the ETO for forensics.

The ETO kept the car and conducted a forensic examination in the absence of the petitioner and declared it tampered.

After seizing the car on March 5, 2020, the ETO office used the car for one and a half years.

The petitioner had no option but to approach the court.

Cut and weld test report was done without the participation of the applicant. The department did not identify any stolen car with the same chassis number.

The vehicle is more than five years old, so there is no need to submit import documents.

Looking at the facts, the court believes that the decision to seize the vehicle was wrong.

The court declares the order of Excise and Taxation dated March 5, 2020 to seize the vehicle null and void.

Reporter: Ehtesham Kyani