The Supreme Court has ruled that vehicles imported in violation of the Import Policy Order cannot be released and remain confiscated. The decision came in a detailed written judgment issued for reporting purposes. A three-member bench headed by Justice Muhammad Shafi Siddiqui and comprising Justice Naeem Akhtar Afghan and Justice Miangul Hassan Aurangzeb issued this order. The bench earlier heard dozens of similar complaints regarding vehicles imported in violation of the Import Policy Order 2022. Disagreeing with earlier judgments of the Lahore High Court (LHC) and the Customs Appellate Tribunal, the SC held that import of vehicles beyond the prescribed age limit is illegal and such vehicles cannot be released even after payment of fines. Importers had brought vehicles under the baggage, gift and transfer of residence schemes. However, the customs authorities claimed that these vehicles exceeded the permissible age limit of three or five years according to the import policy order. Customs confiscated the vehicles and imposed sanctions on importers and clearing agents. The Tribunal and LHC later granted conditional release on payment of a 35% redemption penalty and overdue duty. The Supreme Court set aside these orders and ruled that vehicles older than the permitted age cannot be imported under Annexure-E of the policy.
Obsolete cars remain impounded, SC rules
