Customs units abolition: Notices to FBR head, others.

LAHORE -- The Lahore High Court registrar office has served notices on the federal secretary (finance), chairman of Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) and other respondents in a petition challenging abolition of two statutory directorates of customs department through SROs.

A single bench comprising Justice Abid Aziz Sheikh had on Oct 14 issued notices to the respondents on the petition filed by Dr Akhtar Hussain, director of directorate of Internal Audit (Customs). The judge had fixed Nov 18 as next hearing seeking written replies from the respondents.

The petitioner had submitted that the legislature enacted section 3(B) and 3(DD) in Customs Act, 1969 and established two independent and separate audit organisations namely, directorate general of Internal Audit (Customs) and directorate general of Post Clearance Audit (Customs) in the country's customs administration.

The petitioner said he in exercise of powers conferred on the directorate general of Internal Audit made heavy revenue loss detection reaching Rs7,300 million in first quarter of the current financial year and also launched...