KARACHI: The Sindh High Court (SHC) directed customs officials to consider request of the petitioner for provisional release of consignment, subject to securing the disputed amount of duty and taxes before the concerned collectorate in the shape of pay order/ bank guarantee, in accordance with law on a constitutional petition filed by M/s Haji Sabir & Brothers.
On 18 August, during the hearing of petition, a two-member bench also issued pre-admission notices to the customs officials directing them to file their para wise comment on next date of hearing and also compliance report be furnished before this court on next date of hearing.
During the hearing, counsel for the importer submitted that petitioner has imported a consignment comprising of synthetic rubber NBR & SBR 1205 and filed goods declaration on transaction value of total invoice value US$ 0.91/kg and on arrival of the goods at Karachi Port, approached the concerned officials for release of his consignment.
He argued that however, officials of the customs department refused his request for release his consignment and reassessed the valuation higher then declared value, therefore, petitioner is seriously aggrieved and highly prejudiced by the actions of the respondents, whereby the respondent has denied to accept the declared transaction value of the imported goods and is illegally assessing the duty and taxes on the basis of valuation ruling vide no 1091/2019.
Citing chairman FBR, collector of Customs Appraisement East and Director Directorate of Customs Valuation as respondents, petitioner pleaded the court to declare that act of the respondents is illegal and court may direct them to release his consignment immediately accordance with law and restrain them from taking any coercive action against the petitioner till final order in this petition.
