KARACHI: The Sindh High Court (SHC) has issued notices to the customs authorities and deputy attorney general on a constitutional petition filed by Muhammad Fahad, representative of M/s AAA Package, seeking permission to import and export recycled plastic material/ scrape under valid license.
A two-member bench, comprising Justice Munib Akhtar and Justice Yousaf Ali Saeed, also directed them to file their respective para wise comments on the next date of hearing. The court adjourned the matter for August 15, 2017.
Earlier, counsel for the petitioner stated that he is engaged in lawful business of import and export of recycled plastic material from Saudi Arabia, China, UAE, Hong Kong and Singapore.
According to the petitioner, officials of the customs department lodged FIR No 12/2017 against the petitioner and others for the allegation of missing containers which is pending before the trail court. However, he said that a show-cause notice was issued on February 15, 2017 by Deputy General Manager EPZA for cancellation/ revoked/ withdrawn of the license. He further informed the court that due to the said allegations, consignment of the petitioner was seized by the Customs Collectorte EPZA Export Port Qasim Karachi.
Citing chairman Federal Board of Revenue, collector of Customs Customs Collectorate, Additional Collector of Customs Collectorate, Deputy Collector of Customs Collectorate, Export EPZ and other as respondents, the counsel pleaded the court to restrain them from harassment and allow the petitioner to import and export the recycled plastic material/ scrape under valid license for which the petitioner is entitled under the law. He also pleaded the court may direct them to release the consignment.
