KARACHI: The Sindh High Court (SHC) directed the Tax Department to file para-wise comments on a constitutional petition filed by Shabbir Lakhani, proprietor of M/s Lakhani Traders, seeking a delay certificate of the pending consignments lying at port due to blockage of the NTN and restraining order for putting his name in the First Information Report (FIR).
A two-member bench, headed by Justice Munib Akhtar, was hearing the petition.
Earlier, counsel for petitioner stated that officials of the Tax Department lodged an FIR dated 12/02/2017 against one stranger Saifullah who alleged that said accused was found in possession of smuggled goods and petitioner has nothing to do with that accused and the FIR.
According to the petitioner, respondents created harassment to the petitioner who is importer of the same goods which are lying at the port in seven consignments. The counsel further argued that the petitioner is being threatened with the arrest and putting his name in the same FIR. He informed the court that respondents have also blocked his NTN and are set taking coercive measures.
Citing to Secretary Ministry of Finance, Chief Collector of Customs Appraisement South, Deputy Collector of Customs Administration, Model Customs Collectorate Appraisement West, Deputy Collector of Customs Administration, Model Customs Collectorate Appraisement East, Chief Collector of Customs Preventive South, Collector of Customs Preventive, Model Customs Collectorate and others as respondents, the counsel pleaded with the court to kindly restrain them from taking any coercive action against the petitioner and not to put his name in the said FIR.
The counsel further pleaded with the court to kindly direct them to issue delay and detention certificate in respect of the subject goods lying at the port due to blockage of its NTN.
