KARACHI: The Sindh High Court (SHC) directed parties to conclude their arguments and submit final comments on a petition filed by M/s Texperts International seeking release order of its consignment of polyester micro fabric imported from China and stopped by customs officials due to alleged disputed valuation.
On September 04, 2018, a two-member bench, headed by Justice Aqeel Ahmed Abbasi, heard the matter.
During the hearing, counsel for the petitioner stated that petitioner in regular importer of printed polyester micro fabric from China and imported the same 22,775 kilogram from China and filed goods declaration as US% 2.65 per kilogram, however, officials of the customs department assessed the valuation of said goods as $3.50 per kilogram without approval of the above authorities and illegally.
He argued that customs officials are not allowing the release of goods under Section 81 of the Customs Act, 1969, beside the petitioner has filed the revision petition before the DG Valuation, same is still pending; however, petitioner has no other remedy but to prefer the petitioner before the SHC.
Citing Secretary Revenue Division, Chief Collector of Customs Appraisement South, Director General Valuation, collector of Customs Collectorate Appraisement East and others as respondents, petitioner pleaded the court to declare that act of the respondents as illegal, mala fide and arbitrary.
He also pleaded that the court may direct them to release its consignment immediately and restrain them from taking any coercive action against the petitioner till final order in this petition.
After the hearing, court directed customs officials to make sure filing their para wise comments on next date of hearing without fail.
