KARACHI: The Sindh High Court (SHC) issued notices to tax authorities and deputy attorney general of Pakistan on a constitutional petition filed by Muhammad Yahya seeking exemption from sales tax imposed by customs authorities on his consignment of “cheese”.
While the hearing of petition, a two-member bench, headed by Justice Munib Akhtar also directing them to file their respective comments for January 16, 2017.
Earlier, counsel for the petitioner stated that petitioner is an importer, distributor, wholesaler and trader of among others, food products, including cheese on bulk as well as retail package.
According to the petitioner, he imported a consignment of food stuffs, including cheese as is the subject matter; however, despite cheese being exempt from payment of sales tax in terms of the sixth schedule to the sales tax, officials of the tax authorities have assessed the subject goods declaration imposing sales tax.
Citing Sectary Revenue Division, Chief Collector Appraisement South, Collector of Customs Model Customs Collectorate Port Muhammad Bin Qasim as respondents, petitioner pleaded the court may declare that act of the respondents is illegal, mala fide and arbitrary.
He also pleaded the court may sit aside assessment of the respondents and direct them to release the consignment according to sixth schedule.
