LHC sets aside single bench's order: FBR directed to register vehicles under amnesty scheme

The Lahore High Court (LHC) here on Wednesday directed Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) to register vehicles under amnesty scheme. Several identical petitions were filed against the authorities for not giving clearance about the vehicles of the petitioners.
The petitioners submitted that a division bench of the Islamabad High Court (IHC) had already passed directions for the registration of such vehicles. The authorities concerned were denying registration of their vehicles and were taking coercive measures against them. A counsel appearing on behalf of the FBR submitted that there is not harm in registration of vehicles having proper documentation.
He said, however, the registration of the vehicles having no documentation is impossible. The Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) government had approved the amnesty scheme allowing owners to legalise smuggled cars after payment of concessional duty and taxes. Later, the FBR had issued a Statutory Regulatory Order (SRO) introducing the amnesty scheme. However, a single bench of the IHC had declared it illegal and observed that the scheme was launched to favour a 'certain group' in the country. Later, a division bench of the IHC on November 11, 2013 had set aside the single bench's order and allowed registration of the cars under the scheme.