ISLAMABAD (July 08 2004): The Central Board of Revenue (CBR) has barred mobile customs squads from searching private vehicles throughout the country. The cars used by the squads have been withdrawn by CBR.
Sources told Business Recorder here on Wednesday that the powers of mobile customs squads, particularly pertaining to search of vehicles, have been taken away and cars have been handed over to the respective collectorates.
Now, the mobile customs squads would only be part of the joint check-posts of law enforcement agencies where customs squads could only carry out checking of vehicles on definite information of smuggling.
Sources said that the decision would also help in checking the persistent complaints against the customs squads, who unnecessarily stop vehicles in the name of searching of smuggled or contraband items.
The CBR has decided to use these vehicles for expanding information network, sources added.
