IHC declares car amnesty scheme illegal

ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) Monday declared the car amnesty scheme unlawful and ordered to launch an inquiry and criminal action against the officials who introduced and implemented it including Chairman Federal Board of Revenue (FBR).

The court order, penned by Justice Shaukat Aziz Siddiqui, said that the car amnesty scheme was introduced to achieve political motives and that it caused a loss of Rs35 billion to the national exchequer.

The ruling directed to impound 50,109 vehicles registered under the above scheme and to make arrangements for their auction. It further said that the vested interest minted Rs15.8 billion through the scheme, which caused a loss of Rs35 billion to the national kitty.

It also said that the country could have collected Rs51 billion through smuggled vehicles’ auction.