KARACHI: The Sindh High Court (SHC) has directed the customs authorities to adjudicate the case within seven days on a constitutional petition filed by Crystal General Trading seeking release of its consignments of different items.
The consignments were seized by the customs authorities on the allegations that the company had imported expired items.
A two-member bench, headed by Chief Justice Sajjad Ali Shah, was hearing the petition. During the hearing, counsel for the petitioner argued that show cause notice was issued to the petitioner by the respondents, is incompetent, as the petitioner have not made mis-declaration. According to him, the import consists of certain items, which have expired and certain items, which still have the shelf life and the respondents be directed to release at least those items which are not yet expired.
Kafeel Ahmed Abbasi counsel for the respondents argued that instead of makes piecemeal release, the respondents be directed to adjudicate the matter within seven days to which, the counsel for the petitioner agrees.
After the both sides argument, court directed the respondents to adjudicate the dispute within seven days of the response filed by the petitioner to the show cause notice, which should be filed at the most within three days, court also disposed of the petition.
Earlier, counsel for the petitioner stated in its constitutional petition that petitioner is carrying the business of import, export, wholesale, general trading and services in connection with the trade industry, respondents issued show cause notice to the petitioner dated November 11, 2016 alleged confiscated the goods allegedly expired or have insufficient shelf life and are therefore unfit for fir human consumption and dangerous/ injuries to heath and respondents confiscated various items including shower body washes, mosquito repellant, washroom disinfectant, petrol shower gels and etc.
Citing Customs Collectorate Appraisement East as respondents, petitioner pleaded the court to declare that act of the custom department is illegal, mala fide and arbitrary, importer also pleaded the SHC may direct them to release the goods items.
