KARACHI: The Sindh High Court (SHC) issued notices to the customs department and deputy attorney general on a petition filed by M/s Agha Trade Private Limited against imposition of 3% additional tax on import of coal.
A two-member bench, headed by Justice Aqeel Ahmed Abbasi, heard the case on September 22, 2018.
During the hearing, counsel for the petitioner argued that petitioner is a regular importer of coal and always fulfills all the legal formalities and never involved in any criminal or tax evasion matter.
He submitted that petitioner is seriously aggrieved by the respondents’ demand and collection of 3% value additional tax on import of coal which is being collectively collected by the officers of respondents at import stage purportedly under rule 508 of the rules 2007.
He further argued that amount is not lawful levied and is illegally collected from the petitioner at the stage of import. He stated that respondents have also issued a show-cause notice for impugned recovery without lawful authority.
Citing Chairman Federal Board of Revenue, Collector of Customs Collectorate Appraisement West, East and Collector of Customs Adjudication-II and others as respondents, he pleaded the court to declare that act of the respondents as illegal, mala fide and arbitrary. He also pleaded the court to restrain them from taking any coercive action against the petitioner till final order in this petition.
