KARACHI: The Sindh High Court (SHC) issued notices to customs department and deputy attorney general on a constitutional petition filed by M/s Texperts International seeking release order of its consignment of polyester micro fabric imported from China and stopped by customs officials due to alleged disputed valuation.
On Tuesday, a two-member bench, headed by Justice Aqeel Ahmed Abbasi heard the matter.
During the hearing, counsel for the petitioner stated that petitioner in regular importer of printed polyester micro fabric from China and imported the same 22,775 kilogram from China and filed Goods Declaration (GD) as $2.65 per kg; however, officials of the customs department assessed the valuation of said goods as $3.50 per kg without approval of the authorities and illegally.
He argued that customs officials not allowing the release of goods under section 81 of the Customs Act, 1969, beside the petitioner has filed the revision petition before the DG Valuation and the same is still pending.
Citing Secretary Revenue Division, Chief Collector of Customs Appraisement South, Director General Valuation, Collector of Customs Collectorate Appraisement East and others as respondents, petitioner pleaded the court to declare the act of the respondents as illegal, mala fide and arbitrary.
He also pleaded the court to direct them to release its consignment immediately and restrain them from taking any coercive action against the petitioner till final order in this petition.
After the hearing, court directed customs officials to make sure filing their para wise comments on next date of hearing without fail.
