KARACHI: A two-member bench of the Sindh High Court (SHC) directed customs officials to decide pending applications within a period of 15 days from the date of receipt of this order on a constitutional petition filed by M/s Sikander imported consignments of engines which were detained by the customs officials due to disputed valuation.
On 22 February 2022 during the hearing, counsel for the petitioner argued and after his arguments, court passed an order that “learned counsel for the petitioner states that he was moved two applications to the collector of customs model customs collectorate appraisement East and collector of customs model customs collectorate appraisement West which are pending adjudication.
He requested that some directions may be issued to the concerned authority within a reasonable time, learned DAG extends his no objection to this effect. Respondents 2 & 3 are, therefore, directed to decide the applications moved by the petitioner accordance with law after affording personal hearing to the petitioner, preferably, within a period of 15 days from the date of receipt of this order”.
Earlier, counsel for the petitioner argued that an amount of additional duty and taxes of Rs. 3,135,268 was demanded by the subordinate officer of customs officials for release of consignments lying at port on which per day demurrage detention were being charged causing financial loss to the petitioner.
Citing Chairman Federal Board of Revenue, Collector of Customs Appraisement East and Collector of Customs Appraisement West as respondents, petitioner pleaded the court to declare that act of the respondents is illegal, mala fide and arbitrary.
He further pleaded the court may direct them to release petitioner’s imported goods and restrain them from taking any adverse action against the petitioner till final order in this petition.
