KARACHI: The Sindh High Court (SHC) continued interim order and restrained customs officials from encashment of amount of bank guarantee on a petition filed by M/s Karachi Corporation seeking release order of the bank securities.
While the hearing of petition, a two-member bench, headed by Justice Aqeel Ahmed Abbasi, directed customs officials to file their para-wise comments on next date of hearing.
On September 25, 2018, counsel for the petitioner stated that petitioner is lawful engaged in import of assorted petroleum products and always fulfills all the legal formalities and he imported five consignments of mix hydrocarbon at the international value of $390.MT, however, they assessed the value at the rate of $450 MT.
He submitted that due to disputed valuation, petitioner approached this court and consignments were released on court’s order after payment of bank guarantee. He argued that now he approached the customs officials for return of securities amount which was paid by the petitioner on import stage, however, they denied to release the same.
Counsel further argued that now he has come to know that officials of the customs department are going to en-cash the said amount without lawful authorities.
Citing Secretary Revenue Division, chairman Federal Board of Revenue, collector of Customs Collectorate Preventive, Assistant Collector of Customs Oil Section and others as respondents, he pleaded the court to declare that act of the respondents as illegal, mala fide and arbitrary.
Importer also pleaded the court to restrain them from en-cashment the same amount and restrain them from taking any coercive action against the petitioner till final order in this petition.
