ISLAMABAD: The Federal Tax Ombudsman (FTO) has dismissed a complaint, seeking compensation for the mental agony the importer endured allegedly due to the seizure of the imported items on the order of a customs official.
M/s Al-Hmara Trading Company had filed the petition praying for compensation of Rs 2 million for extra demurrage, container rent and suffering from mental agony due to the seizures. The company had made compensation claim after Pakistan Customs Deputy Collector Muhammad Ashfaq had seized imported sulphur clay and sulphur powder worth Rs 3.137 million involving duty/taxes to the tune of Rs 577,602- as the importer had misdeclared the value as Rs 1.042 million per unit.
The claim was made following dismissal of deputy collector’s decision by the Customs Appeals collector who stated that deputy collector’s decision of confiscating the goods was incorrect.
The FTO rejected the compensation claim made by the complainant and closed the case terming it without any legal grounds and being devoid of merit.
The FTO decision reasoned that the customs officer has not committed negligence; therefore the claim about compensation did not hold grounds.
