KARACHI: The Sindh High Court (SHC) has issued notice to the Customs Appraisement-East in a case of illegal import of valencia oranges from Egypt and adjourned hearing till May 2.
The SHC appellate bench, comprising Justice Munib Akhtar and Justice Arshad Hussain Khan, was hearing a petition filed by Aisha Enterprises against Ministry of National Food Security and Research, Federal Board of Revenue, Collector Customs, Port Muhammad Bin Qasim, Entamologist (Quarantine), Department of Plant Protection (DPP), Seaport challenging detention of their consignment of oranges from Egypt.
During the hearing, Sohail Muzaffar advocate representing Port Qasim collectorate submitted that MCC, Port Qasim was wrongly impleaded as the consignment reached Karachi port in the jurisdiction of MCC East.
Additional Attorney General Pakistan appearing for the federal government and federal respondents submitted written reply by the respondents in which it was maintained that the Pakistan is signatory to international convention under which it is obligatory to prevent spread of insects, pests in fruit and other plants.
It was also maintained that petitioner is a habitual offender and was slapped with a fine of Rs 2,380,000 only during 2016.
The bench after perusing the reply told the petitioner’s counsel that serious allegations have been levelled against his client and these shall be properly responded. The bench also asked the petitioner to modify the title and implead MCC, East as respondent.
