KARACHI: M/s Freesia International has approached The Sindh High Court (SHC) and filed a constitutional petition against auctioning of its imported used clothing textile fabrics due to non-payment of duties and taxes during Covid-19.
On 20 August 2020, counsel for the petitioner stated that it has been reported by Customs Appraisement West that during scrutiny of import consignment, it was observed that the petitioner filed BL No MEDUUK243548 comprising 58 bales of used clothing textile fabrics through registered commercial importer of textiles from shipper, upon further scrutiny, it transpired that the consignment was manifested in the name of petitioner.
He argued that the consignment was arrived at port and discharge dated November 7, 2019, the requisite consignment was imported from UK, the requisite consignment was not paid the requisite duty due to specific reasons as previously used clothing were special exemptions on customs duties.
He stated that hence duty were not paid due to such reasons, later on it was not paid due to Covid-19 as the offices of customs authorities were not functioning, due to such delay of paying duty for imported consignment, the respondent had put the consignment on hold for auction.
He informed that thereafter it is important to mention here that the petitioner was not intimated by virtue of issuing advance notice during the course of the entire process.
Citing secretary Revenue Division, chief collector of Customs Appraisement West, collector of Customs Appraisement West as respondents, petitioner pleaded the court to declare that without intimation to the petitioner, the process of auction be declared as illegal and unlawful, to issue directions to respondents that without obtaining NOC from petitioner no auction be held.
