KARACHI: The Sindh High Court (SHC) directed customs department to file comments on a constitutional petition filed by M/s Karachi Corporation seeking release order of its surety amount submitted before the customs officials in dispute valuation.
During the hearing, Khalid Rajpar advocate filed power on behalf of the customs department and seeks further time to file comments, therefore, court adjourned the matter and directed him to file comments on next date of hearing.
Earlier, counsel for the petitioner stated in its petition that it imported five consignments of petroleum products and filed goods declaration at the rate of US$ 390 MT, however, officials of the customs department assessed at US$ 450 MT and after the intervention of the court consignments were released on submitting of the surety.
Counsel argued that after ending of dispute, importer moved customs officials for release of its surety amount which were not issuing by the customs officials.
Citing Chairman Federal Board of Revenue, Collector of Customs Preventive, Collector of Customs Oil Section MCC Preventive and others as respondents, importer pleaded the court to declare the action of the respondents as illegal, mala fide and arbitrary. He also pleaded the court to direct them to release its surety immediately.