KARACHI: The Sindh High Court (SHC) has directed customs officials to file their para wise comments on a constitutional petition filed by M/s Pantagon International (Private) Limited, challenging SRO No 1035/2017 over imposition of regularity duty on import of various items, including steel sheets and other goods.
A two-member bench headed by Justice Munib Akhtar was hearing the petition. During the hearing, the court also directed them to file their respective para wise comments on the next date of hearing. Earlier, the counsel for the petitioner stated that it is engaged in the lawful business of import of steel sheets and other similar goods. He submitted that Secretary Revenue Division issued notification dated 16/08/2017 being SRO 1035/2017 in purported exercise of power under section 18 (3) of the Customs Act, 1969 imposed a regular duty on import of various items including steel sheets and others similar goods.
Citing Secretary Revenue Division and Statistics/Chairman Federal Board of Revenue, Collector of Customs Collectorate Appraisement East, Collector of Customs Collectorate Appraisement West 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 SRO and restrain them from taking any coercive action against the petitioner till final order in this petition.
