KARACHI: The Sindh High Court (SHC) continued interim order and restrained the customs officials from taking any coercive action in respect of stocks of mobile phones the according to the petitioner have been seized from its premises till next date of hearing on a constitutional petition filed by M/s Digicom Trading Private Limited (Q Mobile) against lodging first information reports. A two-member bench, comprising Justice Munib Akhtar and Justice Omer Siyal was hearing the petition.
During the hearing, counsel for the customs authorities seeks time to submit para wise comments, therefore, court adjourned the matter and directs parties to submit comments on next date of hearing.
Earlier, counsel for the petitioner stated that it is engaged lawful business and fulfils all the responsibilities properly, however, officials of the customs authorities raided at different premises of the petitioner and detained legitimate stock worth of Rs1.5 billion available at the offices/ shop of the petitioner.
Counsel argued that officials of the customs authorities also humiliated and harassing the employees of the petitioner. On last date of hearing, court had issued notices to the customs authorities and deputy attorney general of Pakistan and restrained them from taking any coercive action against the petitioner.
Citing Secretary Ministry of Finance, Chairman Federal Board of Revenue, Chief Collector of Customs South, the Collector of Customs Preventive, Superintendent Preventive Services, Samina Zehra, Director Intelligence and Investigation-FBR, Waqar Qurshi Principle Appraiser, Kakhar Ali Shah Investigation Officer as respondents, petitioner pleaded the court may declare that act of the respondents is illegal, mala fide and arbitrary.
He also pleaded the court to restrain them from taking any coercive action against the petitioner till final order in this petition. Counsel argued that court also directing them no to lodge any FIR against the petitioner.
