KARACHI: A division bench of the Sindh High Court (SHC) issued notices to the customs officials and deputy attorney general on a constitutional petition filed by Zahir Khan, Director of M/s D TO D Logistics Private Limited against lodging first information report (FIR) and blocking NTN.
On 24 December 2020, while hearing of the petition, the court also directed them to file their respective para wise comments for the next date of hearing.
During the hearing, counsel for the petitioner stated that petitioner’s vehicle bearing registration no TLE-794 loaded with container was carrying the goods of textile products on dated November 10, 2020 for transit to Afghanistan, the consignment was insured vide insurance guarantee for imported goods in transit, it is necessary to mention that about 2.5 crore rupees are kept with the respondents as security deposit.
He further argued that while the vehicle of petitioner was entered in customs station Torkham premises on Nov 29, 2020, got the entry pass No 63, said vehicle was stopped and examined when some of the booked goods were allegedly shown to be replaced with used cloths and artificial leather stock lot, hence an FIR no 50/2020 was registered at Customs Transit Station Torkham by investigation and prosecution Branch, MCC Preventive, Peshawar.
He stated that after registration of said FIR, the assistant director HQ has sent a demand notice dated Dec 1, 2020 along with bill of lading to M/s Shaheen Insurance Company whereby it was required to pay the amount of duty and taxes leviable on the said container amounting to Rs15, 228, 219 as pledged by insurance company in the aforesaid insurance guarantee within.
Counsel submitted that petitioner was shocked when it came to know that his NTN also has been blocked by the customs officials, petitioner approached the respondents to de-block the same but on several visits to their offices, no response/ reply has yet been received by the petitioner.
Citing Chairman FBR, Collector of Customs MCC Appraisement West and Director Directorate of Transit Trade as respondents, petitioner pleaded the court may declare that act of the respondents is illegal, mala fide and arbitrary and de-block his NTN.
