Customs vs Sindh Excise Over Tampered Vehicles

By DTD- On Mar 4, 2025

Karachi – A major dispute has emerged between the Federal Customs Department and the Sindh Excise Department regarding the legal status of tampered chassis vehicles, leading to heightened tensions between the two authorities. The Sindh government has directed the Excise Department to seize all tampered vehicles, challenging the stance of the federal Customs authorities, who had previously declared these vehicles as legal.

The clash erupted when Sindh’s Excise Minister, Mukesh Kumar Chawla, issued strict orders to confiscate such vehicles, labeling their use as a violation of the law. He emphasized that the Excise Department holds the legal jurisdiction to seize tampered vehicles in the province.

Minister Chawla further revealed that the Chief Minister of Sindh, Murad Ali Shah, had instructed action against the use of tampered vehicles, backing the decision of the Excise Department. In a direct accusation against Customs officials, he claimed that they were involved in illegal activities and underlined the Sindh government’s responsibility to curb such unlawful practices.

The Excise Minister also recounted a shocking incident where Customs officers allegedly assaulted Excise personnel the previous day. He warned that legal action would be taken against the Customs officials responsible for the attack.

Clash Between Customs and Excise Staff in Karachi

Earlier today, a road-checking campaign by the Sindh Excise and Taxation Department in Karachi’s Sea View area turned into a dramatic confrontation between Excise and Customs officials. The Excise team, which had been stopping vehicles for inspection as part of the crackdown on tampered vehicles, encountered resistance when they halted several vehicles, including those with official number plates.

Among the stopped vehicles were four cars carrying a senior Customs officer and his family. Tensions escalated when the Customs officer called for reinforcements, prompting Customs personnel to rush to the scene. A verbal altercation quickly turned physical, with Customs officials reportedly pushing Excise personnel aside and forcibly removing the senior officer’s vehicle from the inspection point.

Eyewitnesses described a chaotic scene, with both teams exchanging harsh words and engaging in physical confrontations in the middle of the road, attracting public attention and disrupting traffic.

Legal Status of Tampered Vehicles in Pakistan

The legality of tampered vehicles is governed by the Customs Act of 1969 and the Motor Vehicle Ordinance of 1965. According to the Customs Act, tampered vehicles are allocated to Customs field formations for official use, and strict regulations govern their numbers and replacements. Surplus vehicles are sold to eligible departments.

The Motor Vehicle Ordinance of 1965 mandates that any alteration to a vehicle’s chassis, such as modifying the original number, cutting or re-welding the frame, or re-stamping the number, must be verified and approved by the Motor Vehicle Authority. If a vehicle’s chassis is modified due to an accident, the authority must confirm the modification before it can be deemed legal.

Sindh’s History of Resistance Against Tampered Vehicle Registration

This is not the first time Sindh has resisted the registration of tampered vehicles. In November 2021, the Sindh government refused to register vehicles belonging to the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) that had been tampered with. The CAA had sought the registration of two luxury vehicles that had been handed over by Pakistan Customs for temporary official use. However, the Sindh Excise Department rejected the request, stating that no legal provision allows the registration of “cut-weld and tampered” vehicles.

As tensions between the Sindh Excise Department and the Federal Customs Department continue to rise, both sides remain at odds over the legal framework governing tampered vehicles, with the dispute showing no signs of resolution in the near future.