KARACHI: The Sindh High Court (SHC) issued notices to the customs department and deputy attorney general on a petition filed by M/s AKK Enterprises, M/s Steel Craft Pvt Ltd and M/s Perfect Craft (SMC-Pvt) Ltd against the regulatory duty on import of steel products.
During the hearing, a two-member bench, headed by Justice Aqeel Ahmed Abbasi on September 17, 2018 directed them to file their para-wise comments on next date of hearing.
During the hearing, counsel for the importers stated that the petitioners are aggrieved by the action of the respondents, who enhanced the valuation of steel products on the basis of Valuation Ruling No 1035/ 2017, which was declared as illegal and arbitrary by the SHC on various constitutional petitions, however, customs officials are still demanding regulatory duty on the said goods.
Citing Secretary Ministry of Finance, Collector of Customs Appraisement East, West and Port Muhammad Bin Qasim and others as respondents, he pleaded the court to declare that act of the respondents as illegal, mala fide. He also pleaded the court to restrain them from taking any coercive action against the importers till final order in this petition.