KARACHI: The Sindh High Court (SHC) has directed customs officials and petitioners to file their final arguments on constitutional petitions, including Light Centre, against imposition of duty and taxes on consignments of LED lights. A two-member bench, headed by Justice Munib Aktar, was hearing the petition.
During the hearing, counsels for the petitioners stated that they are engaged in the lawful business of import and imported consignments and filed Goods Declarations (GDs) under availing exemptions as entitled under 5th Schedule of the Customs Act, 1969.
The counsels further informed the court that officials of the Customs Collectorate Appraisement did not accept the assessment made by the petitioners on the pretext that the petitioners’ goods are not entitled for relevant exemption as per assessment.
Citing Chairman Federal Board of Revenue, Collector of Customs Collectorate Appraisement West, the Engineering Development Board Alternate Energy Department Board as respondents, petitioner pleaded the court to declare the act of the respondents as illegal, mala-fide and arbitrary.
They also pleaded the court to declare that above mentioned goods are entitled under 5th Schedule of the customs laws and restrain them from taking any coercive action against the petitioners till final order in these constitutional petitions.
It needs to be mentioned here that court had issued notices to customs department and deputy attorney general and had directed them to file their comments.
