Lahore High Court declares customs night raids illegal

The Lahore High Court has declared late-night raids conducted by customs officials on tire market traders to be illegal. In a ruling involving ten traders, Justices Muzammil Akhtar Shabbir and Syed Ahsan Raza Kazmi determined that breaking locks and seizing goods in the absence of owners constitutes a serious violation of the law.

The court noted that customs officials do not have the authority to seize property by breaking locks without following legal procedures. Furthermore, the court ruled that night raids require prior permission from a Chief Collector or Director General. Any seizure conducted without the presence of the owner or independent witnesses, or without allowing traders to present legal documentation, will be considered null and void.

Additionally, the court stated that customs actions taken in violation of Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) SOPs are unjustified and illegal, citing violations of Section 163 of the Customs Act and Section 103 of the Code of Criminal Procedure.