KARACHI: The Sindh High Court (SHC) has adjourned the hearing of a constitutional petition filed by Fawad Yousaf Securities against an impugned notice issued by the customs authorities for recovery of income support levy.
A two-member bench, comprising Justice Aqeel Ahmed Abbasi and Justice Khadim Hussain M. Shaikh, was hearing the petition.
Earlier, counsel for the petitioner stated that the petitioner is working as director of M/s Fawad Yousaf Securities (Private) Limited and paying duty and taxes regularly.
According to the petitioner, officials of the Customs Department issued impugned notice and initiated proceedings for the tax year 2013 for the levy of the income support. He argued that the act is discriminatory in nature.
Citing chairman Federal Board of Revenue, deputy commissioner Inland Revenue Zone-1, corporate RTO (Regional Tax Office) and the commissioner Inland Revenue Zone-1 corporate RTO (Regional Tax Office) as respondents, the petitioner pleaded the court to set aside the impugned notice and restrain the respondents from taking any coercive action against the petitioner.
Meanwhile, Customs (Taxation & Anti-Smuggling) Court Judge Syed Faiz Rasool Rashdi awarded 18 days imprisonment and Rs. 50, 000 fine to the accused lady Durdana Seemi Khan in a case of attempting to smuggled contraband gold slabs and 49 mobile phones from Dubai to Karachi.
During the hearing, counsel for the lady accused person appeared before the court along with her and filed application for pleading guilty and left herself on the mercy of the court, after the arguments, court awarded 18 days imprisonment and Rs. 50, 000 fine to her.
Earlier, investigation officer, senior preventive officer customs house Karachi Masood A Khan had produced the accused lady Durdana Seemi Khan before the customs court and had informed that on an credible information dated November 30, 2016 staff of the customs authorities intercepted the above named accused lady and during the examination recovered 05 gold slabs (10 tolas each) totaling 50 tolas (kept inside the pockets of trouser worn by her) and 49 mobile phones from her possession in which comprising 39 numbers I-Phones and 10 numbers Samsung brand mobile phones tentative value of the said goods of Rs. 40, 00, 000.
Investigation officer further had informed the court that after the formalities said goods were seized and above named accused lady was arrested by the customs authorities and case was registered in violation of section 2 (s) of customs act, 1969 punishable under/clauses (8) (9) of the section 156 (i) ibid.
