KARACHI: The Sindh High Court (SHC) issued notices to the customs department and deputy attorney general and directed them to file their para-wise comments on a petition filed by Khursheed Alam, proprietor of M/s Raz Textile seeking release order for its consignment of textile products lying at Port Qasim detained by customs officials.
On October 19, 2018, a two-member bench, headed by Justice Aqeel Ahmed Abbasi, heard the matter.
During the hearing, counsel for the petitioner stated in its petition that the petitioner is running a manufacturing unit under the name of M/s Raz Textile and principal activity carried out is of manufacturing/shinning, weaving and finishing of textile etc.
He argued that the petitioner imported six containers of textile products which arrived at Port Qasim and goods declaration (GD) was filed by the petitioner according with law; however, for the reason best known to the respondents, the containers were not allowed to be taken out of the port area and detained illegally without assigning any reason.
He submitted that there was neither any mis-declaration or dispute of value or tax leviable and having failed to find any cogent reason to detain the consignment, an excuse was created that the company of the petitioner does not have the capacity to consume the amount of fabric for consumption in textile manufacturing/weaving etc. Nothing was given in writing nor was any reason assigned to justify such withholding/detained of containers as the respondents had nothing before him to act in a manner in which recklessly the consignment was withheld.
Citing Chief Collector of Customs, Collector of Customs Port Muhammad Bin Qasim and chairman Federal Board of Revenue as respondents, he pleaded that court may be graciously pleased to order that the consignment of the petitioner be immediately released and delivered.
Importer also pleaded the court to restrain them from taking any coercive action against the petitioner till final order in this case.
