KARACHI: The Sindh High Court (SHC) issued notices to customs authorities and deputy attorney general, directing them to make sure filing of their para-wise comments on a petition filed by M/s Ayab Bearing Store Private Limited seeking release of its consignment of ball bearings.
A two-member bench, headed by Justice Aqeel Ahmed Abbasi, was hearing the matter.
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During the hearing, counsel for the petitioner stated that importer is engaged in the lawful business of import of ball bearings and always fulfills all the legal formalities.
Counsel argued that petitioner imported ball bearings 24,990 kilogram from China and filed Goods Declarations (GDs) as per Valuation Ruling 1188/2017 dated 29/06/2017 of $1.99/kg. However, a show-cause notice was issued to the petitioner by customs officials due to disputed valuation and customs officials re-assessed the value at the rate of $2.90/kg instead of $1.99/kg as actual valuation.
He submitted that importer approached the appellate tribunal which vacated the show-cause notice and directed customs officials to release his consignment; however, when he approached the customs authorities for release order, they denied to following appellate tribunal’s order.
Citing secretary Revenue Division, chairman Federal Board of Revenue, Collector of Customs Collectorate Appraisement East 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 Sindh High Court to direct the customs officials to release his consignment and restrain them from taking any coercive action against the petitioner till final order in this petition.
