KARACHI: The Sindh High Court (SHC) restrained the tax authorities from taking any coercive action against the petitioner on a constitutional petition filed by Muhammad Yahya seeking exemption from sales tax imposed by the customs authorities on his consignment of “cheese”.
A two-member bench, headed by Justice Munib Akhtar, also directed the tax department to file their respective para-wise comments on the next date of hearing. The court also adjourned the hearing for date in office which will be announced by the SHC as per roaster.
Earlier, counsel for the petitioner stated that petitioner is an importer, distributor, wholesaler and trader of other food products, including cheese, on bulk as well as retail package.
According to the petitioner, he imported a consignment of food stuffs including cheese which is exempted from payment of sales tax in terms of the Sixth Schedule. The officials of the tax authorities have assessed the subject goods’ declaration by imposing sales tax.
Citing secretary revenue division, chief collector appraisement south and Collector of Customs Model Customs Collectorate Port Muhammad Bin Qasim as respondents, the petitioner pleaded with the court to declare that act of the respondents as illegal, mala fide and arbitrary.
He also pleaded with the court to set aside the assessment of the respondents and direct them to release the consignment according to the Sixth Schedule.
