Shaheen Air moves SHC against Customs in Rs 4145m tax evasion case
KARACHI: The administration of M/s Shaheen Air International Limited and other respondents have moved Sindh High Court (SHC) and filed a Constitutional Petition (CP) against Pakistan Customs in order to defend themselves in their alleged involvement in tax evasion of Rs 4145 million.
According to details, the Model Customs Collectorate- (Preventive) had made a contravention report against M/s Shaheen Air International Limited in its alleged involvement in import of 47 aircratfs against Lease Agreement (LA) and dismantling, removing and scrapping of 12 aircrafts in its shed without prior permission of Pakistan Customs authorities.
Subsequently, the Collectorate of Customs Adjudication-I had issued show-cause notice to M/s Shaheen Air International Limited to present its view point before the authorities concerned on August 26.
Later on, the legal representatives of M/s Shaheen Air International (Limited) had sought legal documents from MCC-Preventive before presenting its view point.
At the same time, the administration of M/s Shaheen Air International (Limited) has moved the SHC and submitted its para-wise comments regarding the case.
It is pertinent to mention here that the Collectorate of Customs Adjudication-I had dispatched show-cause notices (SCNs) to all parties including Ehsan Ali Sehbai, Chairman Shaheen Air International Limited, Syed Yousaf (Chief/Director Procurement & Logistics), Faisal Rafiq, DMD (Airlines Operations), S M Anwar, Director Legal Services, Abriaz Ali Khan, Assistant Legal Advisor of Shaheen Air International Limited and scrap dealers Altaf and Basharat in case of huge tax evasion of Rs 4,145 million by importing 47 aircrafts against different lease agreement (LA) and dismantling, removing and scrapping of 12 aircrafts out of the said 47 aircrafts.
It may be mentioned here that the Model Customs Collectorate MCC-Preventive in its contravention report leveled charges against the M/s Shaheen Air International Limited that the private airline committed an offence under Section 2(s), 32(2) & 79 of the Customs Act, 1969 punishable under clauses 8,14 & 47 of Section 156(1)ibid read with the Sales Tax Act, 1990, Income Tax Ordinance, 2001 and Prevention of smuggling Act, 1977
