KARACHI: A two-member bench of the Sindh High Court (SHC) directed customs officials and counsel for the petitioner to file rejoinder for next date of hearing on a contempt application in a constitutional petition filed by M/s Royal Impex against high officials of the customs department.
On 24 January 2022, during the hearing, Chairman EPZA and Deputy Director HQ Directorate General Investigation & Investigation submitted their comments and denial allegation fixed by the petitioner in contempt application filed by M/s Royal Impex.
During the hearing, Shahnawaz Advcoate for the petitioner along with Maimoona Nasreen advocate, Kafeel Ahmed Abbasi deputy attorney general of Pakistan appeared before the court.
Chairman EPZA submitted reply and says that alleged charge of the contempt of this court by the petitioner is baseless and false therefore, he denied the charges, this respondent can never ever imagine to have any intention to disobey any order of this court, Tausif Aman Gurchani Deputy Director HQ Directorate General Customs Investigation & Investigation also submitted his reply.
He states that petitioner has miserably been failed to prove lawful ownership over the impugned consignments rather is trying to misuse for his ulterior motive as the relevant material evidence has sufficiently proved commission of fiscal fraud by the petitioner.
Tausif Aman Gurchani Deputy Director Directorate General Customs Investigation & Investigation further submitted that court may graciously be pleased to dismissed the subject petition.
After the hearing, court directed remaining respondents to file comments, court also directed counsel for the petitioner to file rejoinder for next date of hearing.
Earlier, on last date of hearing, court had granted urgent application and observed in its order that “learned counsel for the petitioner states that certain directions were issued to the alleged contemnors which have not been completed, let comment be called from the alleged contemnors”.
Counsel for the petitioner had argued that petitioner has imported a consignment of prime quality iron & steels in coils and filed goods declaration but customs officials put on hold on alleged that petitioner in connivance with M Rizwan & Brothers was involved in money laundering and tampering of documents.
Counsel added that customs appellant tribunal had directed to customs officials to release the same on provisional release in favor of the petitioner but alleged contemnors are not given NOC in favor of the petitioner.
Citing Chairman FBR, Chairman Export Processing Zone PMBQ, Collector of Customs Exports PMBQ in petition while Aamir Theem, Collector of Customs Exports PMQB, Saifullah Junejo Chairman EPZA PMBQ, Saqaif Saeed Director Customs I&I-Karachi as alleged contemnors as respondents, petitioner pleaded the court may declare that act of the respondents is illegal, mala fide and arbitrary.
He also pleaded the court may direct them to release petitioner goods as well as may initiate contempt proceedings against above mentioned alleged contemnors.
