KARACHI: The Sindh High Court (SHC) directed counsel for the Customs Department to file their comments on next date of hearing on a constitutional petition filed by 31 importers for implementation of its common judgment dated March 19, 2018.
Directives were issued by a division bench, headed by Justice Aqeel Ahmed Abbasi on Thursday hearing.
Earlier, counsel for the petitioners stated that they are conducting business of import and trade of goods having description “ceramic & porcelain tiles” and officials of the Customs Department had enhanced the valuation of the said goods; therefore, they had challenged and the court had announced common judgment dated March 19, 2018 in favour of the importers.
They argued that respondents neither have filed appeal before the Supreme Court against the common judgment nor the said common judgment was suspended by the apex court of Pakistan. Therefore, common judgment has become operative and required to be implemented by the respondents who are making contempt and assessing the goods of petitioners on 12.5% enhanced customs value determine by the respondents.
Counsel pleaded the court may declare that act of the respondents is illegal, mala fide and arbitrary and restrain them from taking any coercive action against the petitioners till final order in this petition.
Petition was filed by M/s Rasheed Enterprise, M/s Marhaba Marbles & Granite Tiles, M/s Modern House, M/s Area Associates, M/s Pak International Traders, M/s Nasir Brothers, M/s Fazal Tiles & Sanitary Ware, M/s Mars International, M/s Globe Tile & Sanitary Ware, M/s M.I Sanitary Store, M/s Metro Tiles, M/s Ishaq Trading Company, M/s Al Rahman Trading Company, M/s Ashan Trading Company, M/s Sun Brid Corporation, M/s Art Stone Ceramics, M/s Impressions Tiles, M/s Farman Ullah & Co, M/s Versatile Traders, M/s Hussain Traders, M/s Zamzama Cermics Center, M/s Hilal Impex, M/s Zoaib Ali Company, M/s Bari Traders, M/s Zubair Sons, M/s Imperial Sanitation and M/s Shair Ali International.
