A seven-member bench of the Supreme Court on Wednesday directed officials of the Federal Board of Revenue (formerly Central Board of Revenue) to strictly adhere to the negative list prepared by Ministry of Industries about the import of edible items, especially poultry feed.
The case was heard by the larger bench comprising Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry, Justice Abdul Hameed Dogar, Justice Mohammad Nawaz Abbasi, Justice Faqir Mohammad Khokhar, Justice Mian Shakirullah Jan, Justice M. Javed Buttar and Justice Raja Fayyaz Ahmed.
Officials of the FBR appeared before the Apex Court and apprised that after reports about the presence of some pork contents in the poultry feed, imported from Sweden and other Scandinavian countries during 2006, its consignments were confiscated.
Replying to a question raised by Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry, they said that there were six importers who indulged in such business. Chief Justice remarked that Allah Almighty is gracious to give us a country like Pakistan and we are making the people to eat such repugnant things strictly banned by Islam. "Are you trying to be funny!" the Chief Justice said while rebuking FBR officials.