KARACHI: Several importers including M/s Shafiq Sons, M/s Mian Shafiq Business International and M/s Ateeq Auto Traders moved the Sindh High Court (SHC) seeking release order of their consignments of off-road tyres for dumpers, construction & mining machinery etc.
On January 29, 2019, counsel for the petitioners stated that they are engaged in the lawful import, wholesale and retail trade of tyres & tubes of various categories; specifications, sizes and brands include tyres used in dumpers, construction & mining machinery, wheel loaders, concrete mixers & industrial handling vehicles etc.
Counsel for argued that the commodity is imported by the petitioners from various countries including China, India, Singapore and Vietnam.
They argued that petitioners imported the above mentioned goods and filed goods declaration, however, officials of the respondents issued demand notice for recovery of alleged evaded duty and taxes and allegation was fixed that importers are involved in evaded duty and taxes, not only issuing show cause notices but also customs department threatened them to initiate criminal proceedings in case the demand amount is not paid within 3 days of issuance of impugned notices.
Citing chairman Federal Board of Revenue (FBR), the Collector of Customs, Appraisement East, West and others as respondents, importers pleaded the court may direct them to release the present and future consignments of the petitioners under claimed PCT heading till the classification dispute is referred to decide by the Pakistan Tyre Importers & Dealers Association or the classification committee in terms of chapter 2 of CGO 12 of 2002 dated 15/06/2002.
They also pleaded the court restrain them from taking any coercive action against petitioners during pendency of these petitions including but not limited to blocking of the NTN, unnecessary harassment, blackmailing, lodging any FIR or attachment of petitioners property/ bank accounts etc.
