KARACHI: The Sindh High Court (SHC) has reserved an order with other connected petitions, including a constitutional petition filed by M/s Berger Paints Pak Limited, against regularity duty on imports of various items including paints items under SRO 1035(1)/ 2017. A two-member bench, headed by Justice Munib Akhtar, was hearing the petition.
During the hearing, counsel for the M/s Burger Paints stated that the issues raised in this petition are already before the court which had been heard and reserved by the court. The counsel prayed that this matter might be reserved along with connected bunch. The counsel for the customs authorities stated that they have no objection, if the court reserves said petition with connected bunch.
After the hearing, the court stands reserved along with connected bunch and directed office to make sure that the same will be attached along with other constitutional petitions.
Earlier, counsel for the petitioner said that it in engaged in the lawful business of import of paints items and always fulfills all the legal formalities, he submitted that respondents notified SRO 1035(1)/ 2017 exercise power under section 18 (8) of the Customs Act, 1969 imposed a regularity duty on imports of various items including paints items.
Citing Chairman Federal Board of Revenue, Collector of Customs Appraisment West, Collector of Customs Appraisment East, Collector of Customs Appraisment Port Muhammad Bin Qasim and others as respondents, he pleaded the court to declare the act of the respondents as illegal, mala fide and arbitrary.
He also pleaded the court to set aside impugned valuation ruling and restrain them from taking any coercive action against the petitioner till final decision in this petition by this court.
