KARACHI: A two-member bench of the Sindh High Court (SHC) granted urgent application and issued notices to the customs officials and deputy attorney general of Pakistan on a constitutional petition filed by M/s Gillani Hygienic Products seeking release order for imported baby diaper Spandex seized by the customs officials due to disputed valuation.
On 9 November 2021, a two-member bench, comprising Justice Shah Muhammad Siddiqui and Justice Agha Faisal heard the matter.
During the hearing, Manzar Hussain advocate appeared before the court and argued that petitioner has also filed an application for urgent hearing, therefore, court may grant urgency, after the hearing, court granted his plea and issued notices to the respondents and directed them to make sure filing their respective para wise comments for next date of hearing.
Earlier, counsel for the petitioner argued that petitioner is engaged in lawful import, manufacturing of baby diaper and imported spandex and never had been involved in any illegal activity and always fulfilled all the legal formalities according to law.
He added that during the course of business, the petitioner imported Spandex baby diapers worth US$ 13, 824 and filed goods declaration according to law, however, during the examination, customs officials fixed allegations that goods reflect higher value at US$ 70,225.92.
Citing Chairman Federal Board of Revenue, Collector of Customs Appraisement East and Collector of Customs Adjudication-II as respondents, petitioner pleaded the court to declare that act of the respondents is illegal, mala fide and arbitrary.
He also pleaded the court to set aside impugned valuation of the above-mentioned goods, direct them to release petitioner’s consignment even on provisional release and restrain them from taking any adverse action against the petitioner till final order in this petition.
