ISLAMABAD:Islamabad High Court (IHC) has issued contempt of court show cause notice to collector for not returning the gold bars .
The case regarding return of confiscated gold bars came up for hearing in IHC Monday,
The court while expressing dissatisfaction over offer of payment of about Rs 48 lac in return for gold bars issued show cause notice to the collector and sought reply within two weeks.
A division bench of IHC comprising justice Sardar Ijaz Ishaq and justice Arbab Muhammad Tahir issued orders regarding case.
It is pertinent to mention here a citizen Waqar ul Nisa has filed a contempt of court plea .
According to court order it was ordered to return the gold bars to the petitioner and not the money in return for it.
According to the counsel of the petitioner the cost of the gold was fixed at the rate of 2023 and not the existing rate. Why the benefit of increase in the cost of gold be given to the state when the petitioner suffers burden of loss.
According to order the court was told the gold bricks have been handed over to State Bank of Pakistan and these cannot be got back.
The section 169 (4) of customs act relates to sale of the confiscated goods and to preserve acquired money.
No mention is made in the respective legal clause to return the confiscated gold to state bank of Pakistan as nonreturnable.
The court said in its order no satisfactory explanation has been given on getting less amount by the petitioner as compared to the existing price and giving benefit to the state.
According to the petitioner the gold cannot be confiscated till smuggling is proved.
The court while declaring the reply of respective authorities unsatisfactory issued show cause notice to the collector.
The collector was directed to file his reply within two weeks.
The court adjourned further hearing of the case till November 2.
It is pertinent to mention here the IHC had ordered to return the gold to the petitioner within two weeks.
The contempt of court plea has been filed due to non implementation of court's orders.