KARACHI: A two-member bench of the Sindh High Court (SHC) headed by Justice Shafi Muhammad Siddiqui directed customs officials to release imported consignment of Ginger Garlic & Dehydrated Garlic Flakes after securing differential amount on the shape of pay order/ bank guarantee filed by M/s M/s Faisal & Co against detention of its imported goods seized by customs officials due to disputed valuation.
On 20 December 2021, during the hearing, Imran Iqbal, Aneel Zia advocate for petitioner, Kafeel Ahmed Abbasi deputy attorney general, Hussain Bohra assistant attorney general for Pakistan appeared before the court.
During the hearing, Irfan Mir Halepota advocate filed vakalatnama on behalf of the customs department, which was taken on record.
After the arguments, court passed an order that the subject matter on this petition be challenged in involving the valuation ruling which is beyond 90 days, the goods detained, let such be released after securing the differential amount with the concerned collectorate. Constitutional petition also disposed of along with all pending applications.
Earlier, counsel for the petitioners argued that petitioners imported the above-mentioned goods and filed goods declaration according to law, however, the same were detained and customs officials assessed higher valuation without justification and lawful authority.
Citing Chairman Federal Board of Revenue, Collector of Customs Port Muhammad Bin Qasim, Collector of Customs Appraisement West, Collector of Customs Appraisement East as respondents, petitioners pleaded the court to direct them to return bank guarantee which was paid by the petitioner during provisional release and restrain them from taking any adverse action against the petitioner till final order in this petition.
