KARACHI: Collector of Customs Collectorate Port Muammad Bin Qasim informed the Sindh High Court (SHC) that petitioner is involved in mis-declaration and evaded the duty on a constitutional petition filed by M/s AMK Steel Pvt Ltd seeking release order of its consignment of re-rollable and re-meltable iron and steel scrap. A two-member bench, headed by Justice Munib Akhtar was hearing the petition.
During the hearing, Collector of Customs Collectorate Port Muhammad Bin Qasim and other customs officials filed reply and submitted that petitioner is involved in mis-declaration and evaded the duty to the tune of Rs4,963,374, therefore, court may requested to dismiss the petition. After the hearing, court directed counsel for the petitioner to file rejoinder on next date of hearing.
Earlier, counsel for the petitioner stated that petitioner is engaged in the lawful business, manufacture & mild steel products and regular imports of re-rollable and re-meltable iron and steel scrap from various countries, in a rotten. He imported a consignment of 162.790 MT of re-rollable re-meltable iron and scrap from UAE and filed goods declaration which was laying at the port, however, when it approached the customs officials for release of its consignment then importer was informed that said consignment was blocked by the customs officials.
Citing Chairman Federal Board of Revenue, Directorate of Intelligence & Investigation Customs & Excise, Saeed Farooqui, investigation officer of Directorate Intelligence & Investigation Customs & Excise and Collector of Customs Collectorate Port Muhammad Bin Qasim as respondents, importer pleaded the court to declare the act of the respondents as illegal, mala fide and arbitrary.
He also pleaded the court to direct them to release the consignment and restrain them from taking any coercive action against it till final order of the petition.
