KARACHI: The Sindh High Court (SHC) directed customs officials to release consignment of petitioner comprising citric acid monohydrate/ anhydrous on bank guarantee on a constitutional petition filed by M/s Kalsoom International against detention of their consignment.
On 15 April 2020, a two-member bench, headed by Justice Aqeel Ahmed Abbasi heard the petition. The bench also directed customs officials to file their respective para wise comments on next date of hearing.
During the hearing, counsel for the petitioner stated that petitioner is engaged in lawful import of citric acid monohydrate/ anhydrous and always fulfilled all the legal formalities according with law, he said that during the business, petitioner imported consignment comprising citric acid monohydrate/ anhydrous and filed goods declaration according with law.
Counsel argued that despite the release of their consignment, officials of customs department detained their consignment and without any reason assessed valuation under the valuation ruling no 1015/2017 dated Jan 20, 2017. Counsel said that customs officials enhanced valuation without lawful reasons therefore, petitioners are serious aggrieved by the action of the customs department.
After the hearing, court directed customs officials to release above mentioned and court also directing them to submit their comments on next date of hearing.
Citing secretary Revenue Division, chairman Federal Board of Revenue, Collector of Customs Model Customs Collectorate East, West and Director General of Valuation as respondents, petitioner pleaded the court may declare that act of the respondents is illegal, mala fide and arbitrary.
He further pleaded the court may set aside impugned valuation ruling and restrain them from taking any coercive action against the petitioner till final order in this petition.
