KARACHI: The Sindh High Court (SHC) on Wednesday restrained the official departments, including customs from taking any coercive action against the petitioner till May 27, 2016 in a petition filed by M/S Sea King Shipping Agencies over dispute of used Mercedes-Benz “E” class car, which was imported from England.
While hearing the petition, a two-member bench, headed by Chief Justice Sajjad Ali Shah also directed the respondents to act strictly in accordance with law issued notices to the Federal Ministry of Interior, Ministry of Foreign Affairs secretary, Customs Intelligence deputy director, Karachi Excise, Sofia Malik and Deputy Attorney General, in this regard.
Earlier, counsel for the petitioner stated that petitioner cleared used vehicle as clearing forwarding and shipping agent with exemption certificate from England and declared the same on goods declaration for his client Soe Niang Thu, Embassy of the Union of Myanmar. They issued clearance letter and paid the entire amount assessed by custom department and vehicle was imported to Islamabad through Al-Saig Goods, which issued receipt and the same was used with the embassy.
According to the petitioner, however respondent no 4, Sofia Malik, made complaint regarding stealing of the car in UK and police officials of the UK issued a letter on January 19, 2016 pointing out that the vehicle was exported to Pakistan with mala fide intention.
The counsel argued that, petitioner had fulfilled all the conditions and liabilities but respondents specially customs authorities harassing the petitioner. The petitioner pleaded the SHC to restrain the respondents from taking any coercive action against it.
